Biting Habits: Excessive biting forces may lead to loose teeth.   

Periodontal (gum) disease is the most likely cause of a loose, permanent tooth. This progressive infection causes damage to the gums and bone tissues that hold teeth in place, leading to looseness and ultimately tooth loss.

Excessive biting forces over time may also lead to loose teeth. The excessive force stretches the periodontal ligaments that hold teeth in place, causing the teeth to become loose.

This condition is called occlusal trauma. In its primary form, the patient habitually grinds or clenches their teeth or bites or chews on hard objects like pencils or nails. These habits can cause considerable damage. It can also be a factor when gum disease is present supporting bone becomes so weakened by the disease, even normal biting forces can cause mobility.

– Lip biting can be a difficult habit to break because the behavior can become so automatic that a person may no longer be aware of it. In some cases, physical conditions can cause a person to bite their lips when they use their mouth for talking or chewing.

In other cases, the cause can be psychological. People may bite their lip as a physical response to an emotional state, such as stress, fear, or anxiety.

– The bad habit of nail-biting is much more common than you might think. Some studies have found that about one-quarter of children bite their nails habitually; others say it may peak at almost 45 percent in adolescence. While it seems that nail biting is a simple behavior that can be stopped easily, many of the children with nail-biting have already tried to stop it, but they have not been successful. The frustrations due to failed attempt involve others such as parents and siblings.

– Chronic biting of oral mucosa is an innocuous self-inflicted injury, commonly seen in children suffering from developmental and psychological problems and has rarely been reported in normal unaffected individuals.

If you recognize the early signs of grinding or clenching, particularly jaw soreness in the morning, it’s important to seek treatment before teeth become loose. The symptoms are usually treated directly with muscle relaxants, an occlusal guard is worn to soften the force when teeth bite down, or stress management, a major trigger for teeth grinding. The sooner you address the habit, the more likely you’ll avoid its consequences.

If, however, you’re already noticing a loose tooth, treatment must then focus on preserving the tooth.

Other treatments, including orthodontics and gum disease treatment, may also be included in your treatment plan. Even if you have more than one of these problems, don’t despair. They can be overcome if you have the motivation, discuss it with your doctor to find the best solution before heavy signs will occur.

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