Loose Teeth
An adult tooth should not move. Mobility usually means the bone supporting it has been lost to gum disease, or the tooth has been overloaded, cracked or traumatised. Acting early gives the best chance of keeping it.
Ready to book your appointment?
Send us your details and we'll be in touch — usually within one working day.
Mobility is a late sign.
By the time a tooth feels loose, a significant amount of supporting bone has usually already gone. That's why gum disease screening at routine check-ups matters so much.
Not all loose teeth are lost. Once inflammation is controlled and the bite adjusted, mildly mobile teeth frequently firm up again — and splinting can stabilise those that don't.
What to look for.
The signs vary, but most people notice one or more of these:
- 01A tooth that rocks when you push it
- 02Teeth that have drifted or splayed apart
- 03A change in how your teeth meet
- 04Discomfort when biting on one tooth
- 05Gum recession around the loose tooth
- 06Food packing in a newly appeared gap
Where it comes from.
The most common culprits:
Don't wait it out.
Speak to your our practice dentist if you're experiencing any of the following — book an appointment as soon as you can:
- —Any adult tooth moves, even slightly.
- —The looseness is getting worse week to week.
- —Teeth have started to drift or gaps have opened.
- —There is pain, swelling or a bad taste.
In discomfort right now?
A loose tooth with swelling and throbbing pain suggests active infection — that's urgent. Call us for a same-day appointment.
A plan, not a quick fix.
We chart your gum pockets, take X-rays to map bone levels, treat the underlying cause and, where useful, splint the tooth to its neighbours while it stabilises.
