The popularity of boxing as a hobby continues to grow and grow. Thousands of people who never thought they would duke it out in the gym are doing so on a regular basis, not just to become a tough pugilist but to achieve better health. Those who have a love for boxing and a fear of going to the dentist won't be on the right path to better health especially if a hard hit leads to a loose tooth. Seeing a dentist as quickly as possible and avoiding succumbing to fear is the attitude of a champion.

Loose Teeth Get Worse

Human nature leads people to try to tell themselves things are not as bad as they seem. Telling oneself a tooth that was knocked loose while sparring will get better on its own is quite a stretch. Not taking a tooth loosened by trauma seriously potentially sets the stage for the following problems:

The Tooth Gets Knocked Out

A loose tooth is hardly capable of dealing with more trauma. Another blow to the jaw could very well knock the tooth right out of the mouth. So could eating a regular meal. A loose tooth is not properly affixed to the gums and jawbone, which means very little force is necessary to send that tooth to the boxing ring mat or even to the kitchen floor.

Gum Disease Emerges

A fighter willing to accept a loose tooth because "it's not so bad" doesn't really understand how bad things could end up becoming. The loose tooth may have come with or contribute to gum lacerations. An untrained eye may not notice pits or gaps in the gums resulting from the trauma, but the gum issues may be there. Food and bacteria might end up trapped under the gums, which then could lead to serious and expanding periodontal disease.

The Wrong Steps Worsen Things

Relying on inaccurate information posted online could lead to making a very improper decision. Brushing the gums extremely hard to strengthen them and, hence, strengthen the loose tooth has the potential to be disastrous. The loose tooth might get worse from the abrasive and excess pressure from rigorous brushing.

Keep in mind, there may be very little time before the loose tooth gets worse just from eating or clenching one's teeth. 

Treatment Options Exist

A dentist may be able to apply a splinting procedure to tighten a loose tooth. Individual circumstances dictate whether or not the splint is possible for a particular patient, but the dentist is surely going to make a proper and safe diagnosis of how to deal with the loose tooth. Additionally, those who fear the dentist have not likely been in for a visit in some time. The loose tooth could be a proverbial blessing in disguise. Checking out the loose tooth gives the dentist a chance to check your mouth for other dental and oral problems.

For more information, contact local professionals like Milner Dentistry.

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