Tooth loosening: causes, prevention, treatment

Tooth loosening is a relatively common condition in France and in industrialized countries. Its evolution depends on the precocity and the quality of its management.

This situation, although seemingly harmless, should not be underestimated, as it can lead to the loss of one or more teeth!

So what is tooth loosening? What are the causes and risk factors? How to recognize it clinically? How to treat it? And above all, how to prevent its appearance?

What is tooth loosening?

Periodontal or gingival recession, commonly known as loosening of the teeth, is a condition characterized by a retraction of the gums at the neck of the tooth, i.e. the part located between the dental crown and the root.

This situation will create a space between the tooth and the gum that is conducive to the accumulation of tartar and bacteria. This will then lead to gingivitis or periodontitis, which is an inflammation of the gums or tissues supporting the teeth (periodontium).

Therefore, we can say that loosening of the teeth is the first step of gingivitis or periodontitis. That's why you should go to your dentist as soon as possible when you see this sign!

What are the possible causes of receding teeth?

There are many causes of tooth loosening. Here are some of the most important ones:

• Genetics: a person is more likely to develop receding teeth if they have a family history of this condition (receding teeth in parents or siblings).
• Age: older people have less vascularized, thinner and more fragile gums. The latter are therefore frequently retracted, exposing the dental root.
• Poor oral hygiene: this leads to an accumulation of tartar on the teeth and thus to gum inflammation.
• Poor tooth brushing technique;
• Use of hard-bristled toothbrushes;
• A misalignment of the teeth;
• An oral occlusion problem;
• Chewing tobacco use;
• Regular consumption of chewing gum;
• Nail biting habit or onychophagy;
• Bruxism (grinding of the teeth during sleep);
• Stress.
• Diabetes.

What are the symptoms of receding teeth?

The loosening of teeth is the first phase of periodontitis or gingivitis. Its symptoms are therefore almost the same as the latter:

• An increase in the sensitivity of the teeth to thermal variations (hot/cold) and to acidity, especially at the tooth-gum junction.
• A change in the appearance of the teeth, especially the front ones, which will appear longer than before.
• The roots of the teeth become visible due to the retraction of the gums.
• The tooth becomes abnormally mobile: it is important to know that teeth naturally have a certain degree of mobility. They are not completely fixed and rigid. But from a certain threshold, it becomes pathological and the cause must be sought (ex: periodontitis).
• The appearance of gingival bleeding after brushing the teeth.
• Metallic taste in the mouth (presence of blood).
• Swollen or red gums for several days/weeks.

It is essential to visit your dentist as soon as possible when you have one or more of these symptoms. Early treatment is, of course, always more effective than late treatment. It is absolutely necessary to act before periodontitis sets in and progresses towards tooth loss!

How are loose teeth treated?

As we recommended earlier in the article, make an appointment with your dentist immediately when you experience any of the symptoms of receding teeth. He will then perform a complete examination of your mouth and surely a panoramic x-ray of your teeth.

The treatment of a tooth loosening consists of scaling and root planing. The purpose of these operations is to remove tartar, plaque and bacteria from the surface of the teeth in order to allow the gums to adhere. To do this, the dentist uses manual instruments (called curettes) or ultrasound. He will also prescribe antibiotic therapy to eliminate pathogenic bacteria and prevent recurrence.

These operations generally require 2 to 4 sessions with your dentist.

In addition, the price of a dental root planing is between 150 and 250€ for a single quadrant. For the whole mouth, you should count 600 to 1000€ (for the 4 quadrants). Unfortunately, this operation is not covered by the social security system… You must therefore opt for a mutual insurance company that is efficient in reimbursing this type of treatment.

Recommendations after descaling and surfacing

Once you have completed your scaling and planing sessions, you should adopt more rigorous oral hygiene measures:

• Brush your teeth after each meal;
• Use of a soft-bristled toothbrush (more respectful of the integrity of the gums);
• Use of interdental brushes to track tartar that settles between your teeth;
• Mouthwash 3 times a day during the 2 weeks following the surfacing;
• Closer dental appointments: first every 3 months, then every 6 months. This will allow close monitoring of the progress of tooth decay and inflammation.

A slackening in the measures of oral hygiene can be a source of unfavorable evolution of dental decay and the development of periodontitis. We remind you that this can end in one or more dental falls!

Tooth loosening surgery: gum grafting

In some situations, simple scaling or resurfacing is not enough to remedy receding teeth. Your dentist will then suggest a surgical solution: gum grafting.

It is a small surgical procedure that is performed under local anesthesia and lasts only one to two hours. It consists of taking a thin piece of the patient's palatal mucosa and grafting it to the base of the tooth. This is intended to slow down the progression of tooth decay and cover the roots of exposed teeth.

Here is an outline of the procedure for a gum graft:

1. Preparation of the patient (preparation of the material, sterilization of the operating fields, injections of local anesthesia…);
2. Scaling of root surfaces;
3. Thinning of the part of the gum that will receive the graft;
4. Removal of a more or less important part of the superficial layer of the patient's palate (the healing of the palate will take place naturally);
5. Apposition of the graft on the gingival surface beforehand;
6. Sutures with absorbable thread to fix the graft on the gum;
7. Placement of a cover dressing.

Your dental surgeon will then prescribe medication: painkillers to manage minor post-operative pain, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics to block bacterial proliferation and prevent any infection.

Don't worry, this is a minimally invasive, quick and painless procedure. It is very effective in the majority of cases of tooth decay. Its results are long-lasting, it can permanently solve the problem (for life) provided that the patient respects the rules of oral hygiene.

Recommendations after a gum graft

After gum graft surgery, during the recovery and healing period, you should avoid:

• Foods that are too hot or too cold (choose warm foods and drinks);
• Acidic foods (lemon, vinegar…)
• Hard foods (risk of attacking the gums and causing bleeding);
• Alcoholic beverages;
• Tobacco;
• Intense or violent physical activities (combat sports…);
• Chewing gum.

These measures allow the gum to heal in the best conditions and the graft to “take” well. The results are satisfactory in the vast majority of cases (80%). In case of failure (insufficient graft take), it is possible to perform a second gum grafting procedure (maximum 2 attempts).

Laser treatment

The laser is a real alternative to gum grafting in the treatment of receding teeth. Its principle is very simple: the practitioner performs a local anesthesia on the gum and then exposes it to the laser light beam. Thisaccelerates the healing of the gums and closes the pockets that have formed between the gum and the tooth.

This method has many advantages over gum grafting, includingno post-operative pain or bleeding. Its only drawback is its excessive cost. It is about 2000€ and no coverage is to be expected from the social security.

What can be done to prevent tooth loosening?

The best treatment for tooth decay is prevention! We give you the measures to respect in order to avoid its development:

Optimize dental brushing

A good brushing after each meal, lasting 2 minutes and with a correct technique, allows to prevent the deposit of tartar and thus the loosening of the teeth.

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging your gums. Also, as all dentists recommend, brush your teeth “from red to white”, that is, from the gum to the tooth. This will prevent tartar and bacteria from building up at the gumline.

You can also opt for an electric toothbrush. It is more effective in removing plaque and is less aggressive to the gums.

In order to remove more plaque, in addition to brushing (not as a replacement), you can use a dental jet. This type of device is very effective in cleaning the teeth. But that's not all! They also allow for a gentle cleaning and massage of the gums.

Finally, choose a toothpaste suitable for sensitive gums.

Use mouthwash

The antiseptic mouthwash prevents the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in your mouth. Some products also contain anti-inflammatory substances that can relieve or prevent gingivitis.

Be careful, the mouthwash does not replace brushing your teeth. It is only a complement for a more efficient cleaning.

Regularly descaling

Tartar is the primary cause of tooth decay. So visit your dentist regularly to have your teeth scaled.

Tooth decay: natural means of treatment and prevention

First of all, we must warn you that none of the following natural remedies will replace a proper treatment by your dentist. These are only additional ways to fight against tooth loosening.

Here is the list of natural remedies against tooth loosening:

• Aloe vera: this plant promotes healing of the gums in case of small bleeding after brushing the teeth.
• Avocado oil: it has very interesting anti-inflammatory properties to soothe a gingivitis.
• Green tea : helps fight against dental plaque thanks to its richness in antioxidants.
• Baking sod a: it can relieve a small inflammation.

Conclusion

Tooth decay is a condition that affects many people, often without them realizing it. Its treatment, whether by a simple scaling/surfacing or by a gum graft, gives very good results in the vast majority of cases.

However, it is a condition that is best prevented due to its disastrous complication of tooth loss. This is mainly due to impeccable oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist.

At the slightest symptom, make an immediate appointment with your dentist for early and effective treatment.