sụt thao
Definition
- Adjective:
- Loose (of teeth): Describes a tooth that has become loose or wobbly in its socket, typically due to gum disease, injury, or bone loss. This is the primary and most specific meaning.
- Dislodged / Unseated: Can describe something that has become partially displaced or unsettled from its normal position, though this usage is less common.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cái răng của tôi hơi sụt thao. (My tooth is a little loose.)
- Sau cú ngã, một vài chiếc răng của cậu bé bị sụt thao. (After the fall, a few of the boy's teeth became loose.)
- Chiếc cầu răng cũ bắt đầu sụt thao. (The old dental bridge began to feel loose.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is highly specific to dentistry and oral health. It is almost exclusively used to describe the condition of teeth or, by extension, dental appliances (like crowns or bridges) that are no longer firmly attached.
Variants and Related Words
- Sút (v): to become loose, to slacken. This is a more general verb for something becoming loose (e.g., a screw), and is related etymologically to "sụt thao."
- Răng lung lay (phrase): wobbly/loose tooth. This is a common descriptive phrase with the same meaning as "răng sụt thao."
Synonyms
- Loose: not firmly or tightly fixed in place.
- Wobbly: tending to move unsteadily from side to side.
- Mobile (dental term): capable of moving or being moved freely.
Related Idioms
- There are no common idioms directly using "sụt thao." The concept is typically expressed literally or through the related phrase "răng lung lay."