Irrational obsessive compulsive habit of wiggling loose adult tooth

[Baaku]

I have an almost obsessive compulsive habit (psychologist doesn't think I have OCD, I think it's a significant possibility, though) of wiggling a loose adult tooth that I have. It is my upper right molar, previously I had a loose upper left molar but I was able to stop wiggling it and it appears to be tight as normal.

However, I just can't stop wiggling this upper right molar. I'm 18, so of course I NEED to stop this.

Previously, when I would wiggle it, I would hear a 'click'; my assumption was that it was occurring because the gums were strengthening its grip on the tooth. However, it doesn't click anymore. Is this a bad thing?

Could it be indicative of bone loss?

Furthermore, the thought of losing the tooth would significantly depress me, I'm already very depressed because of my seemingly inability to stop wiggling this tooth, even though I KNOW nothing good can come of it. I just CAN'T stop it for longer than a few hours.

If worse comes to worse, would it be possible to get an implant, even if some of the bone has been lost?

And, are there any options to prevent me from wiggling the tooth? (I've been to the dentist before about it, he just tapped it and said it wasn't loose) but IT IS. I can visibly see it moving around 3 millimeters in the mirror.

Would it be possible to bond it to another tooth so that it is physically impossible for me to wiggle it?

Do I have any options?

Thanks.

[Teethpopper27]

I know this is far too late to help you but I haven't found a lot about this online and I want others to know what's up if they stumble upon this. So, I lost a tooth and starting doing this popping to the one next to it to the point where it hot loose and had to be pulled. The popping isn't doing damage to bone, but in my experience the popping stopped after I had already made the tooth too loose to save. It had to be pulled and of course NOW I'm doing the same thing to the tooth next to it! I lost the first tooth due to an accident, but now I've caused $10,000 in damage to my teeth. The whole process is 10 months long and I have weird looking face teeth in the meantime. I need to stop right now but it is a compulsion and so hard I'm thinking about taking up gum chewing even though it's not great for fillings I need to occupy myself somehow. It's so embarrassing. I'm going through a very stressful time and this certainly isn't helping. I'm hoping whomever reads this takes my warning seriously, stop popping your teeth before it's too late!

[specialmom]

That's a good warning. Thanks for sharing.

[Teethpopper27]

I feel for you. I'm 40 and lost 2 adult teeth to this compulsion and I'm still doing it, not consciously most of the time. It's utterly embarrassing and an expensive distructive habit. I'm sorry I have no advice but to keep trying to stop.

[jemma116]

The best thing that you can do is to STOP wiggling it.  Easier said than done I know.  But thing about the cost of inserting a false one, they are very expensive if it can be done.

Try and leave the tooth alone and use floss.  Flossing around the gums will help the get the gums healthy and keep the tooth firm.

When teeth get loose, it is not the actual tooth that is the problem.  It is usually caused by gum disease called Gingivitis.  

By brushing your teeth in the morning and before going to bed at night and flossing every day, will help to keep your gums healthy and your tooth will be strongly held in place.

Best wishes.

[Exiecoxxy]

I need help fast I cannot stop wriggling it around ( my tooth) I have been hit and have a loose adult tooth I keep wriggling it around with my mouth help please!!!!

[ocdmd]

I have a similar obsession but I feel it with my tongue and it feels painful. The dentist says there is nothing wrong with it and that if it hurts I should get a root canal.... trick is that I don't know if wiggling it and touching it with my tongue is the source of the discomfort. I hate obsessions with teeth. Its not my only obsession but I find that it comes and goes sometimes.