How to tighten a loose tooth at home?

Try DIY mouth rinse

Mouth rinses can effectively help your oral hygiene. You can use them as an additional tool to help prevent plaque buildup and fight oral infections. When incorporated into a dental care routine, mouthwashes may help prevent gum disease.

Depending on your condition, your dentist may recommend or even prescribe an antimicrobial mouthwash. Before you get the right product, you can try one of the following homemade mouthwashes.

Salt water

Salt water is the oldest and most natural remedy to fight infected oral tissues.

Mix a teaspoon of salt with about 8 ounces of warm water. Note that if you have sensitive gums, one teaspoon of salt may cause irritation and burning sensations. In this case, you should use 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Begin by swishing vigorously in your mouth. Please do this for a minute and then rinse with clean pure water, spit it out, and repeat the process 2-3x/day.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound that can be used efficiently in your DIY mouthwash. It is a mild antiseptic that is effective against bacteria and viruses in your mouth. Hydrogen peroxide helps eradicate bacteria and viruses in the gums and around loosened teeth.

The best mouthwash is a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution. To make such a mixture, you need one part 3% hydrogen peroxide and two parts clean water.

When the solution is ready, gargle with the mixture, keep it in your mouth for 60 seconds, and then spit it out. Repeat the process 1-2 times/day.

Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, has been used as a natural remedy for thousands of years in Ayurvedic (Indian traditional) medicine. Some studies show that this herb, when used as a mouthwash, is a strong antifungal and may be used as a denture cleanser to prevent cavities in young children. Further research is needed to determine safe and efficacious preparations of the plant extract for intraoral use.

Use traditional medicine to help your gums

Some of the following herbs may increase the strength and longevity of your gums.

Turmeric and black pepper

Some studies have shown that this combination of spices exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, but further research is needed to establish a healthy protocol for their use in the mouth. 

Peppermint oil

Peppermint oil is incredibly effective against bacterial growth and gum inflammation, and is already used as an ingredient in many commercially available mouth rinses.

Studies have shown that ‘essential oils have the potential to be developed as preventive or therapeutic agents for many oral diseases, but further clinical trials are needed to figure out their safety and efficacy.’ It is not recommended to apply any essential oil at its full concentration to any part of the body, as it may irritate the skin/mucosa. 

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient Indian remedy that has scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in improving oral and overall health. Oil pulling involves simply swishing a tablespoon of oil, usually coconut oil, back and forth in the mouth for 15 to 20 minutes.

This procedure kills harmful bacteria in your mouth. It can help maintain healthy oral health, strengthening loose teeth.

Calcium and Vitamin D supplements

Calcium and vitamin D supplements are essential nutrients for maintaining a healthy smile. Their deficiency can significantly affect your oral health.

Loose teeth are not only a result of gum problems. This issue also occurs when the density of the jawbone decreases. Calcium and vitamin D have a profound effect on the jawbone, enhancing tooth retention. Providing the body with these nutrients is especially crucial in adults (especially women) who lose bone density as they age.

Follow Healthy Eating Habits

If you stick to proper nutrition when your teeth start loosening, you will have a better chance of saving them. Avoiding excessive consumption of sugary foods and carbonated drinks is extremely beneficial. Include more raw vegetables, fruits, yogurt, cheese, and nuts in your diet, always in moderation.

Keep proper dental hygiene

Good dental hygiene helps restore or mitigate various oral conditions. Regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing are the foundation of a healthy oral cavity. Proper brushing requires gently guiding the brush in an up-and-down motion. To floss, take 18 inches of dental floss and wrap it around the middle fingers of both hands. Gently guide the floss back and forth, hugging the teeth as you go around the gum line to scrape off food particles and plaque.

See your dentist regularly for professional deep cleaning and dental examinations. This will help you avoid complications and severe damage to your teeth and gums.

Proper dental care becomes difficult if you overeat starchy and sweet foods. These factors contribute to the formation of plaque and increase acidity, which can lead to gum disease and enamel decay. 

Lee especially warns against the severe effects of gum disease: ”I often explain it to my patients with this analogy: think of your tooth as a fence post that was once set in solid concrete. A loose tooth does not mean the post itself is the problem; it means the concrete foundation around it is crumbling away. You cannot fix that by polishing the post.”

”That crumbling foundation is your jawbone, and it is being destroyed by advanced gum disease (periodontitis),” he stresses. ”The bacteria causing this destruction are deep below the gumline, in places that no amount of rinsing, oil pulling, or brushing can reach. While those home remedies might reduce some surface-level inflammation, they do absolutely nothing to stop the underlying bone loss,” Lee adds.

Tobacco consumption also affects oral hygiene.