Loose tooth gum swelling

A loose adult tooth with swollen gum can reflect infection, gum attachment loss, trauma, or a cracked root and needs examination.

A healthy adult tooth is supported by periodontal ligament fibres and alveolar bone. Swelling may come from inflamed gum tissue or a dental abscess, while mobility indicates altered support, injury, or a damaged tooth structure.

Keep the area gently clean, choose soft foods, and avoid applying heat or placing chemicals on the gum. A clinician may examine mobility, test pulp response, measure periodontal pockets, and take dental radiographs.

Seek prompt care for facial swelling, fever, pus, severe pain, difficulty swallowing, or rapidly increasing looseness. An injured or infected tooth may need stabilisation, drainage, root canal treatment, gum treatment, or removal depending on the findings.

Ask what is causing the mobility, whether the pulp and root are healthy, how much supporting bone remains, and whether the tooth can be stabilised or restored.