Your Quick Guide to a Loose Adult Tooth! What to Do

When you were growing up, having a loose tooth may have caused you some excitement. It was usually followed by a visit from the tooth fairy and some cash you can spend on sweets! However, as an adult, this situation doesn’t elicit as much joy. Instead, you may be worried about having a gap in your smile. There are many reasons why this could’ve happened, but it’s important to act fast and call your emergency dentist in Washington. Here’s a quick guide to what you should do.

1.)  Don’t Play with Your Tooth

It’s important to avoid touching a loose tooth. Although it might be tempting to move it around with your tongue or finger, you may be making it worse by doing so. Leave it as it is and don’t try to straighten it out or place a temporary splint on it yourself. If you think that the tooth will need to be extracted, you shouldn’t do that either. Attempting this can leave you at greater risk of developing an infection, and you’ll cause yourself discomfort.

2.) Clean Your Mouth

While you don’t want to wiggle your loose tooth, keeping it clean is the next step. You won’t do this by brushing or flossing it (avoid doing either of these), but by rinsing your mouth with warm water. Don’t swish aggressively, but rather gently to remove particles and bacteria from your mouth.

3.)  Avoid Certain Foods

If your stomach starts rumbling before you can visit your dentist, you can still eat. You should chew on the opposite side of your mouth where the loose tooth is and do so gently. Additionally, steer clear of chewy or hard foods. The added pressure when you bite into tougher items can cause further damage, discomfort, or even make it come out. Sticky or chewy foods often require more force to chew and can pull on the loose tooth.

What Can My Dentist Do?

Once you can visit your dentist for treatment, they will perform an oral examination. Depending on your situation, they may be able to place a splint to stabilize it. This will help reintegrate the tooth with your jaw. If it poses a risk to your oral health, then removing and replacing it could be your best option.

A loose tooth may cause you some panic, but it’s important to take a breath. By following these steps and calling your dentist, you can give yourself the best chance of fixing up your smile.

About the Practice

At Davidson Dental Associates, you benefit from a team of skilled dentists who want you to feel confident about your teeth. Our team is a phone call away to help you deal with your dental emergencies. We will walk you through what to do until you can visit our office. Especially if you have a loose tooth, we get you in as early as possible to get you relief from the issue. The best way to contact us for an urgent dental visit is by calling (202) 775-0022.