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My Tooth Was Hit and Now Feels Loose
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Posted on 7/20/2016 by Nic Grasvik |
 Impact injuries happen. When an adult experiences a loose tooth, it can be unnerving. Your dentist likewise does not want you to lose a tooth and would like to assist you in avoiding costly repairs.
Permanent teeth can become loose for a variety of reasons, including impact injury, but not all loose permanent teeth require examination from your dentist.
Trauma to a tooth from hitting it on something hard can happen while playing sports, outside activities, an act of violence, or even just accidental falls.
If you participate in a contact sport, wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth, 70% of sports related injuries are to the mouth. If you have been injured and now feel like a tooth has loosened, there are some steps that you can take to save your tooth.
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Use a cold compress on the outside of your mouth for immediate pain relief. |
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In many situations, a loosened tooth will tighten up on its own. Over the next couple of days, use caution to not touch it, wiggle it, bite or chew with it. |
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If the tooth begins to darken in color, contact the dentist for an x-ray. |
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If the loose tooth appears to be ok, your dentist may be able to apply a mouth splint which will protect the tooth and hold it in place while it heals. |
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A tooth that is darkening may be an indication that the pulp is dying, we may be able to save the tooth structure with a root canal. |
Contact our office if the tooth does not seem to be tightening up or if it changes in color.
Ignoring a tooth that has darkened can lead to the death of the tooth and the need for its removal. It is always best to try and save a natural tooth structure.
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