For most people, wisdom teeth can be a pain in the neck (or jaw for that matter). One of the most dreaded dental procedures is wisdom teeth removal because more often than not, it involves the extraction of all the four wisdom teeth. However, there have been claims that wisdom teeth can naturally fall out on their own. So, how true is this?
Can wisdom teeth fall out on their own?
First off, it is important to note that it is highly unlikely that wisdom teeth can come out on their own without an underlying problem. This, however, does not mean that it is not impossible. Unless you still have milk teeth growing out your mouth, your adult teeth do not fall off on their own unless triggered by something in the surrounding tissues or the underlying bone. However, there have been cases where people have reported their wisdom teeth falling out ‘naturally’ without a visit to the dentist. While this may be true, in most cases, teeth falling out is usually as a result of periodontitis or other factors as will be explained in the rest of the article.
What causes wisdom teeth to fall out?
There are a number of things that can cause a tooth to become loose and eventually fall out on its own. The following are some of the causes of loose teeth.
- Periodontitis
Periodontal diseases affect the gum and the tissues surrounding the teeth. In serious cases, it may also affect the underlying bone that supports the tooth and cause the tooth to loosen. Periodontitis is caused by bacterial build up between the teeth, which results from poor dental hygiene. If not treated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss or worse, the surrounding gum and teeth may also be affected.
- Injury or impact
Teeth are naturally very strong because of the purpose they serve. However, if a tooth is exposed to strong impact or injury, the soft tissue supporting it may be weakened and result in the tooth becoming loose. The bone may also weaken as a result of the impact.
- Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a medical condition that results in weakening of bones. Consequently, the bones become porous, and any slight impact can lead to breakage.
- Pregnancy
With pregnancy comes spiked levels of estrogen and progesterone, which can affect the periodontium. Periodontium comprises of the tissues and ligaments that support the teeth structure and keep it in place. Once this is affected, the teeth may become loose.
Bottom Line
As you can already see, there are a number of factors that can lead to your teeth loosening and eventually falling out on their own. However, there is nothing like ‘naturally falling out’ for adult teeth and especially wisdom teeth. Only milk teeth naturally fall out. If your wisdom tooth fell out on its own, there is probably an underlying cause which requires you to visit a dentist as soon as possible. For a proper diagnosis for why your wisdom teeth fell out, visit our dentist in Melbourne who will check for any complications and administer the proper dental treatment.