Mobile Teeth

Causes

  • Resorption of root

    There is a "succeeding permanent tooth" underneath the root of a deciduous tooth. When the permanent tooth erupts, the root of the deciduous tooth will resorb and the tooth will become loose and will eventually fall off. This natural phenomenon occurs between the age of six and thirteen.

    Animation showing a set of upper and lower deciduous teeth having their developing permanent successors underneath.

  • Receding dental alveolar bone

    When a person is suffering from severe gum disease, the dental alveolar bone will recede and the teeth will lose support and become loose.

    Animation of a tooth and its periodontal tissues. The periodontal tissues are receding, resulting in the loosening of tooth due to the loss of support.

  • Inflammation of tissues around tooth

    When severe tooth decay or gum disease causes inflammation of the tissues around the tooth, or cause an abscess, the tooth will become loose.

    Animation showing a severely decayed molar, its surrounding gum become red and swollen resulting in the formation of abscess.

  • Traumatic injury to teeth

    After traumatic injury to a tooth, the tooth supporting tissues may be damaged and the tooth involved will become loose.

Management

  • There is no need to worry if a deciduous tooth becomes loose because of tooth transition. You can let the deciduous tooth naturally exfoliate and there is no need to extract it. Even though the tooth is loose, you must still pay attention to oral hygiene around it.
  • If teeth are mobile because of gum disease, you should go to a dentist as soon as possible and seek proper treatment to prevent the situation from worsening.
  • You should see a dentist when there is inflammation in the tissues around the tooth and seek proper treatment to completely cure the inflammation. According to the situation, treatments such as root planing or endodontic (root canal) treatment can be done to keep the inflammation from spreading to adjacent periodontal tissues or adjacent teeth.
  • You should go to a dentist as soon as possible to have your teeth checked if a tooth becomes mobile after traumatic injury.