Loose Teeth and Bite Problems
It is often a cause for celebration when a child gets their first loose tooth but for an adult, a loose tooth is a cause for concern. If a tooth is not firmly held in its socket, it can lead to pain or difficulty when chewing and biting. In addition, a loosened tooth can run the risk of having to be extracted or could fall out on its own.
A loose tooth and the related issues with biting, can lead to serious problems that impact a person’s overall oral health. And if the issues are not remedied promptly, they will worsen, compound, and create situations that are more difficult for a dental professional to effectively treat. Accordingly, a person should seek treatment as soon as they notice any loosening teeth or bite problems.
Loose Teeth Problems
A person may experience one or more loose teeth for a variety of reasons, but the most common cause is due to poor oral hygiene. Should a person fail to floss and brush their teeth adequately on a daily basis, it will inevitably lead to them experiencing gum and tooth issues in time. Bacterial plaque will accumulate that if not cleared away, will cause the bones that support and hold the teeth in place to weaken and the teeth to loosen.
Loose teeth can also develop as a result of repeatedly clenching or grinding the teeth (known as bruxism). Excessive force is placed on the gums and teeth because of long-term clenching and grinding. This causes the periodontal ligaments that join the jawbone and teeth to stretch, causing the teeth to become loose. These behaviors could also cause jaw pain, bone loss, and speed up tooth wear.
Loose Teeth Treatment
If tooth loosening is attributed to insufficient oral hygiene, the primary treatment will be a thorough professional cleaning to clear away the gum disease. Once periodontal disease is cleared away, any loose teeth generally reattach to the gum tissue allowing them to remain strong and firm again.
Should bruxism cause loose teeth, a dentist may prescribe a protective mouthguard for the patient to wear at night. And if a loose tooth is due to trauma or an accident, it could be necessary to place a dental splint to provide support while the tooth heals. If a loose tooth is in bad enough condition, extraction may be necessary.
Bite Issues
Bite problems are often attributed to genetics or from having crooked teeth. While crooked teeth can also be due to genetics, many patients get crooked teeth from behaviors like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting. Jaw issues often result from crooked teeth as well.
Amongst the common bite problems experienced are:
- Underbites
- Overbites
- Crossbites
- Open Bites
- Crowded Teeth
Bite Issue Treatment
Two common ways to combat bite issues are the use of dental splints or by wearing a protective mouthguard. In more severe cases, braces can be used to treat bite issues by straightening and realigning the teeth. And for patients that need restorative dental work, it may be helpful to undergo bite correction therapy or behavior modification to remedy any bite issues they caused.