When we were young, we would wait patiently for our baby teeth to fall off so we could give it to the tooth fairy and wait for our permanent teeth to grow. But, when our permanent teeth suddenly fall off, some may panic because they may think it is an indicator for early aging. Others may ignore it and let their teeth be while a few will check the issue out with their dentist.
If your permanent tooth starts falling off all of a sudden, it is an issue that you should respond to immediately even if they will fall off at some point as we grow older. While some may say it’s going to happen anyway and it won’t grow back, it can be a sign of something serious if it is not checked out immediately. It is advised to engage with an emergency dentist in your area to seek the necessary advice.
What can cause our permanent tooth to fall out
Tooth fall out can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of these factors can be avoided, while others can not be avoided.
Here are the four major causes for tooth loss in adults:
- Poor oral health and hygiene – Our dentists often tell us that we should maintain good oral hygiene because poor oral health can lead to tooth loss. Bacteria can seep through your gums and make your teeth go loose. It can happen to one tooth or to multiple teeth if you do not go to the dentist to get it fixed.
- Tooth decay – Tooth decay happens if you have poor oral health and if you do not follow a healthy diet. As a result, it affects the strength of your teeth and puts it at risk of tooth loss. Although you can remedy tooth decay with fillings and tooth crowns, you may need a root canal or tooth extraction if it gets worse.
- Accident, injury or trauma – Major mouth trauma caused by excessive force – whether through training or accidents – can cause tooth loss. When it gets hit, your tooth may get dislodged from your gums and change your tooth structure.
- External factors – There are several external factors that can also cause tooth loss. One factor is genetics as men over the age of 35 tend to lose their teeth faster because of periodontal disease. Smoking can also cause tooth loss since tobacco can affect gum health the longer it stays in your mouth. Heavy smokers, in particular, tend to develop gum disease faster and lose their teeth in the process.
What to do with your fallen teeth
If your tooth or teeth start falling out, you may be able to get it replanted back to your gums. But, you only have a one hour window to do so, which is why you need to contact your dentist right away.
While securing your appointment, you can do certain steps to keep your tooth fresh so your dentist can replant it without problems.
- When picking up your fallen tooth, hold it from the crown rather from the root because you may get it infected with more bacteria.
- Clean the tooth with saliva or milk before trying to put it back in the socket where it came from.
- Use a clean gauze to hold it in place and to reduce bleeding.
- If you can’t put it back yourself, soak the tooth in milk until you have your dentist examine it.
- Don’t use water to soak your fallen tooth since it can be damaged throughout the process.
When you reach your dentist, your dentist will check the condition of your gums, clean the affected area and try to replant your tooth. But, there is a risk that even if they are able to put it back, it may cause infections that may damage your gums even further. If you experience pain or swelling in the affected area after tooth replanting, contact your dentist again so they can check it out.
Your dentist will also prescribe you with medication to reduce the swelling and prevent other symptoms from occurring. Cold compress is also advised to reduce the pain caused by replanting and let it stay there for 3 to 5 minutes.
It is important to remember that reimplanting only works for adult permanent teeth and not for milk teeth. Doing the same thing to a child’s milk teeth may cause problems once your child’s permanent tooth starts growing. Let a dentist check their gums when their teeth fall off.
If your tooth cannot be replanted, you may be required to get false teeth. Further treatment may also be given depending on the reason why your tooth falls off all of a sudden.
Final thoughts
When your permanent teeth fall off, it must be treated immediately so it can be replanted back to your gums. Take care of your tooth while waiting for your replanting and always practice good dental hygiene to prevent it from happening further.