Why is my molar loose?
Do you have a loose tooth, and you don't understand why? If you are past the age of being visited by the tooth fairy, but your teeth are not holding in place, it is essential to solve this problem as soon as possible.
Molar that moves: why?
There are many possible reasons why you might experience a loose molar.
Dental trauma or grinding your teeth too hard can be the cause of a loose tooth in adults, caused by use, damage or fracturing of the tooth. The most common cause, however, is periodontal disease, which is a bacterial infection of the tissues that support the tooth.
If you neglect to brush and floss your teeth regularly, you can develop gum disease, which can and will cause the loosening and eventual loss of your teeth. Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of bacteria on the teeth, which form dental plaque and then tartar. At the start of the infection, only the gums are inflamed. The gums may swell, redden, be sensitive to the touch and may bleed when brushed. This is called gingivitis, and is the first stage of gum disease. The teeth are implanted in the jawbone and are supported by the gums as well as a set of bones and ligaments.
If the infection is not treated by your dentist and spreads to ligaments and bone (in other words, if gingivitis progresses to periodontitis), your teeth may begin to loosen (appear longer). In case of tooth loosening, a tooth that moves slightly is possible because the loose teeth lose their attachment to the alveolo-dental ligament. They may also become very sensitive, and abscesses may form in the pockets formed in the gums.
Risks of complications from a loose tooth
Tooth loss:
Without adequate treatment or support, the tooth that loosens or moves risks falling out. In addition to aesthetic damage, an unreplaced tooth can lead to various complications. A single missing tooth is enough to cause migration or premature wear of other teeth, gum problems, digestive disorders due to insufficient chewing, but also an increased risk of falling. In the elderly, the loss of a tooth without replacement or an ill-fitting prosthesis promotes instability, because the jaw joint contributes to the preservation of balance.
General risks of periodontitis:
Untreated, periodontitis can have repercussions on general health:
- a risk of infection: during a dental infection, germs can spread through the blood and reach the various organs (heart, kidneys, joints, etc.);
- a risk of worsening diabetes;
- an increased risk of cardiovascular disease;
- a risk of preterm birth in pregnant women.
Loose teeth: what to do?
As soon as the first symptoms appear, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Only a health professional will be able to check your general dental health and suggest appropriate solutions. Without proper treatment, the infection can spread and lead to loss of the tooth. Your dentist will certainly perform scaling (or radical surfacing for deeper scaling) to remove accumulated tartar and bacteria. If the periodontitis is advanced, your dentist may consider surgical treatment3, to clean up the teeth at the root level or to consolidate a loose tooth. After the treatment, it will be necessary to be extremely vigilant not to let the infection develop again. Several daily antibacterial mouthwashes are recommended the weeks following the procedure to avoid any new infection.