Loose teeth may be welcomed by children, but they signify problems for adults. Whether your loose tooth occurred because of an injury, teeth grinding, or gum disease, there are a few steps you should take—and mistakes you should avoid—to save it. Learn what to do below, including when to see a dentist.

Do:

See the dentist immediately.

Schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible to determine a treatment course. Depending on the severity of the issue, your dentist may bond a splint to the affected tooth to keep it stable or suggest bone or gum grafts to rebuild bone tissue and support gum health. If the tooth requires extraction due to serious gum disease or decay, your dentist will discuss dental bridge and implant options with you.

Keep the tooth clean.

Clean your other teeth with careful brushing and flossing to avoid bacterial buildup and use an antibacterial mouthwash to cleanse the affected tooth.

Avoid brushing or flossing the tooth since both actions can loosen it further. If you are concerned about brushing and flossing your other teeth because you are afraid of hitting the loose tooth, stick to rinsing your mouth to remove food particles, acids, and bacteria.

Don’t:

Touch the affected tooth.

Refrain from touching the tooth with your fingers or tongue since doing so can cause it to fall out. Even if you think the tooth will need extracting, do not touch it, as this increases the risk of bleeding and infection.

An infected tooth can form an abscess, or a pocket of pus, that forms at the root. Without treatment, the infection can spread and cause symptoms such as facial swelling, rapid heart rate, fever, and trouble swallowing.

Eat hard foods.

If you need to eat before your visit to the dentist, consume soft foods such as yogurt, pureed fruits and vegetables, mashed potatoes, avocados, bananas, and white rice. Hard, sticky, and crunchy foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, and hard crackers can cause the affected tooth to fracture, chip, or fall out.

Get your loose tooth examined by David A. Dauphin DMD in Dothan, AL. This dentist serves Houston County, offering family, cosmetic, and general dentistry services with convenient scheduling and a welcoming environment. Call (334) 794-3727 to make an appointment or learn more about his services online.