As children, everyone goes through the natural process of losing “baby” teeth. In those cases, having a loose tooth is nothing to worry about. However, adult teeth should stay in place. So, if someone is experiencing loose teeth in Sterling, VA, or the surrounding area, they need to get advice from a dental expert like a trusted periodontist.
After a careful examination, the periodontist may diagnose one or more, of many reasons, why a patient’s teeth are beginning to shift.
Possibility #1: You Have Gum Disease
Gum disease occurs when a person’s gums become infected. If gum disease is not treated at the earliest stage, which is gingivitis, it will progress to the later stages, called periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. At that point, the bacteria that is causing an infection will begin to damage the structure of a person’s teeth roots and jawbone.
As it can be imagined, teeth cannot last forever if they have no stable foundation to keep them in a person’s mouth. Unless a patient works with a periodontist to manage their gum disease, it will spread and cause more loose teeth, as well as inevitable tooth loss.
Possibility #2: You Have Had A Trauma To Your Mouth
Did a tooth get hit during a basketball game with buddies, or perhaps kicked while playing in the backyard with kids? Maybe there was an accident that forced a person’s head to hit the inside of the car? Any kind of facial or mouth trauma can make a tooth come loose.
While some traumas make teeth feel loose right away, others take time to affect the teeth. This is why it is always a good idea to talk with a trusted dental healthcare provider after any injuries to the mouth or head. Getting a quick checkup followed by an early intervention treatment can stop a loose tooth from occurring.
Possibility #3: You Have An Underlying Medical Condition That Makes You Prone To Loose Teeth
There is a link between loose teeth and some medical conditions and medicines. Systemic osteoporosis, which is a weakening of the bones, can begin to take a toll on the jawbone. As the jawbone loses volume, it can no longer provide the stability that teeth need.
People who have diabetes also may be at greater risk of losing their teeth. Though the medical community is not sure exactly why people with diabetes tend to lose teeth, especially as they enter their senior years, the general consensus is that diabetes robs the mouth of necessary nutrients. Diabetes can make it harder for the mouth to keep up with the natural process of removing oral bacteria and food debris, too.
Work With A Periodontist To Solve Your Problem Of Loose Teeth In Sterling, VA
It can be unnerving to realize that your teeth are coming loose in Sterling, VA. If even one of your teeth is wiggly, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with Dr. Jean-Claude Kharmouche or his colleagues at NOVA Perio Specialists-Periodontics and Dental Implants.
We also have offices in Gainesville and Leesburg, VA. Together, we can come up with a treatment plan to find out why your teeth are loose and how to address the problem with a customized solution.
