How To Strengthen Loose Teeth: Causes And Home Remedies

Loose teeth in adults are a sign of poor dental hygiene or oral diseases. Loose teeth make it difficult to chew your food properly, and leaving them untreated can lead to the surrounding tissues becoming red and swollen. To save yourself from all that discomfort, you can try several home remedies for loose teeth to alleviate the symptoms and provide relief. In this article, we deeply explore the several causes of loose teeth and home remedies one could try to keep the symptoms of loose teeth under control. Scroll down for more information.

What Causes Your Teeth To Become Loose?

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For many, loose tooth issues arise from gum problems and bone loss (1). It happens when periodontitis, an infection, destroys the bone and soft tissues supporting the teeth. Other reasons for shaky and loose teeth include:

• • Poor oral hygiene
  • Gum disease with plaque
  • Dental injuries or fractures
  • Tooth decay from sugary foods (2)

Quick Tip

Keep your blood sugar levels under control, as the medications used for treating diabetes may cause salivary glands to produce less saliva and increase gum disease risk.

• Osteoporosisⁱ  XA condition in which declining bone mass prevents the regeneration of new bones to replace old ones and makes them prone to fracture. (3)

Although it is alarming, this condition is reversible. Let’s look at a few home remedies to set the wobbly tooth straight and make it strong.

Home Remedies For Loose Teeth

1. Oil Pulling
2. Amla Powder
3. Calcium And Vitamin D Supplements
4. Garlic
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
6. Mustard Oil And Honey
7. Indian Redwood Bark Powder
8. Turmeric And Long Pepper

1. Oil Pulling

The process of oil pulling or swishing the oil around in your mouth can help eliminate impurities by killing harmful microbes residing in the mouth. It can help maintain good oral hygiene and eliminate plaque (4). This may help fix loose teeth.

You Will Need

1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil (or sesame or olive oil)

What You Have To Do

1. Before brushing your teeth in the morning, swish the oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes.
2. Spit the oil out and rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water.
3. Brush your teeth as usual.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every morning. You can also do it once again before going to bed.

2. Amla Powder

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Amla or Indian gooseberry can help develop and support connective tissues (5). It can help in tissue regeneration and healing, leading to tightened teeth.

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon amla powder
• 1 cup of water

What You Have To Do

Mix the powder with water and rinse your mouth with this mixture. 

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once a day.

Note: Do not drink or eat anything for an hour following your rinsing routine.

3. Calcium And Vitamin D Supplements

Calcium and vitamin D are essential for teeth and bone health. A deficiency of these nutrients can cause the deterioration of dental health, leading to loose and shaky teeth. Studies suggest that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements increases tooth retention (6).

You Will Need

Vitamin D and calcium supplements

What You Have To Do

Consume the supplements as prescribed by your physician.

How Often You Should Do This

Follow the dosage as prescribed.

4. Garlic

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Garlic is a strong antimicrobial agent (7). If your loose tooth is caused by an infection, placing the garlic on it can help in getting rid of the harmful microbes over time.

You Will Need

A garlic clove

What You Have To Do

1. Slice the garlic into thin slivers and place one or two of these in between the gum of the affected tooth and your inner cheek.
2. Leave this on for as long as possible.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this 2-3 times a day.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide thoroughly eliminates all bacteria present in and around the loose tooth (8). These microbes are one of the most common reasons for loose teeth as a result of infection, cavity, and/or plaque.

You Will Need

3% hydrogen peroxide solution

What You Have To Do

1. Take a tablespoon or so of hydrogen peroxide solution in your mouth and swish it around for a minute.
2. Spit it out and rinse your mouth with plain water.
3. Follow this up with your regular teeth brushing.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this once or twice every day.

6. Mustard Oil And Honey

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Mustard oil and honey are antibacterial agents with many potential benefits. A mixture of these natural ingredients can help strengthen gums and tighten loose teeth. This is usually used as an endodontic (related to the soft tissues in the tooth) medication owing to its antibacterial property (9).

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon salt
• A few drops of mustard oil

What You Have To Do

1. Add the oil drops to the salt and make a paste.
2. Massage this gently over the affected area as well as the surrounding area for a minute or two.
3. Rinse your mouth with warm water.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this oil and salt paste once every day for 2-3 days, and then use it once every few days.

7. Indian Redwood Bark Powder

The resin present in the bark of this tree has been traditionally used to treat dental diseases and infections. Studies show that the bark extracts of Indian Redwood have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help to maintain oral hygiene(10).

You Will Need

Indian Redwood bark powder

What You Have To Do

1. Take a pea-sized amount of the powder on a clean finger and massage the affected area with it.
2. Rinse your mouth clean with water.
3. You can add some black walnut powder to the bark powder for added benefits.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice daily.

8. Turmeric And Long Pepper

The active component of turmeric, known as curcumin, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties (11). Massaging the teeth with ground turmeric can reduce pain and inflammation. Indian long pepper possesses analgesicⁱ  XThe property of an agent or drug that relieves pain caused or accompanied by a number of physical conditions. , anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that can also help eliminate the pain that arises at the affected site (12).

You Will Need

• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon long pepper powder

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the powders and massage the mixture gently on your gums.
2. After you have diligently massaged your gums for about two minutes, rinse the mixture.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this daily to make your teeth and gums stronger. 

Note: Ensure you don’t eat or drink for the next 30 minutes after using this powder.

Quick Tip

Wear a bite splint to avoid grinding or clenching your teeth as you may otherwise damage your teeth.

Prevention Tips

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Here are a few ways by which you can prevent your teeth from becoming loose:

• Make it a habit to brush your teeth at least twice a day.
• Apart from brushing, you must floss between your teeth regularly.
• Avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol.
• Make sure to consult your dentist regularly to determine if you are maintaining good oral hygiene.
• If you are into extreme sports, you must wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth.
• Consult your doctor to see if you need to take vitamin D and calcium supplements to help prevent osteoporosis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal for teeth to be loose after using braces?

Braces are meant to readjust the position of your teeth and align them properly. This implies that your teeth may feel loose with braces initially, but after you have completed your course of wearing braces, your teeth will no longer feel loose.

What is a splint for your teeth?

A dental splint is used to give extra support to loosened teeth until they heal. Lesser biting pressure is experienced after splinting, thus causing no damage to the already loosened teeth.

Is losing your teeth hereditary?

Certain issues, such as receding gums, which can be a genetic condition, can lead to loose teeth more often than usual. There are other genetic factors that can make you more prone to gum diseases and cavitiesⁱ  XDamaged areas in teeth that are characterized by discolored holes and openings due to poor dental hygiene. . These can also lead to loose teeth.

How long does a loose tooth take to heal?

If the treatment involves the usage of splint to set your loose tooth, it can take between 3-8 weeks, depending on the severity of the case.

Can a loose tooth tighten itself back up?

Yes, a loose tooth can tighten back up on its own. However, this depends on the cause and how loose the tooth is. For instance, a tooth that has become shaky due to an injury can tighten in a week or two.

Should you brush a loose tooth?

No, you should not brush a loose tooth as it may loosen even further. You can instead clean your teeth by swishing around some water inside the mouth.

Does milk help a loose tooth?

The numerous proteins found in milk can help promote oral health and make your teeth stronger (13). It may prevent the loosening of teeth and improve gum health.

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Dr. Thomas ConnellyDDS

 

Practicing in Beverly Hills and Manhattan, with experience that spans more than 21 years and several Northeastern states, Dr. Thomas Connelly delivers world class dental aesthetics to patients from all walks of life. He is accredited by the American Society of Dental Aesthetics - the most prestigious and selective credentialing organization in the world for Aesthetic Dentistry - and is...more

Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling. Her passion for writing and her educational background have assisted her substantially in writing quality content on topics related to health and wellness for over three years. In her free...more