- Before beginning treatment, inspect your teeth visually. If you have suffered a recent injury to the jaw, you are probably well aware of the reason for your loose teeth. If not, look inside your mouth with a small flashlight. In addition to loose teeth, you also may have painful, inflamed, or bleeding gums. You may be able to see areas where the gums have pulled away from the teeth, exposing the roots or leaving large pockets that are ideal for bacterial growth. Additionally, when you bite down or press against your teeth you may be able to see thick fluid emerging from the gum line or you may have a constant bad taste in your mouth. If this is the case, gum disease is probably the cause of your loose teeth. If none of these situations applies to you, seek the advice of a health care professional.
- One of the main goals of self-care for loose teeth and gum disease is to try to kill the underlying bacteria that tend to be at the root of the problem, providing you with temporary relief until you can see a dentist. Home remedies that can be applied to the mouth and gums include tea made from licorice root, hawthorn fruit or bilberry root. Simply cover 1 tbs. of herbs with 1 c. of boiling water. Allow the mixture to stand for 15 minutes, then strain the resulting brew through a coffee filter to remove any solids. Put 1/4 cup of the warm solution into your mouth and swish for 30 seconds. Spit and repeat until the herbal brew is completely gone.
- You also can place a pinch of some popular household seasonings between your cheek and gum line. Once the herbs have been moistened slightly, gently spread them across your gums with the tip of a finger. Leave the spices in place for 10 minutes and then rinse your mouth with warm water. Choose from ground cinnamon, ground cloves, alum, turmeric or black pepper. These all have antibacterial properties.
