A loose tooth! :(

[Olivitree]

My guinea pig has a loose tooth, he started eating very delicately this morning and it took me until just now to discover that one of his lower front teeth is loose. I've just fed him a cucumber piece cut up into small pieces to save him discomfort, we're going to take him to a vet very soon, but, what would you suggest I do until then, should I take his hard foot out of his cage to prevent him knocking his tooth out?
What would and should the vet likely do as well if anything?
Also! what are the possible causes of it? The tooth doesn't look damaged in anyway, just slightly longer than the other bottom tooth and I think it might have slipped up out of the gum a little, is there a chance he might accidentally swallow it if it falls out?

[Love pigs]

Well, mebe he has hit it on something. Good thing with the vet. As well. If he needs to eat before the vet, them hand feed him. You can go to guinea linx and find out how. Also, give him extra vitamen c. The doc. will say so too. Cute piggers in the avator you have.

[Olivitree]

Yeah, I've given him a bit, but it's human stuff we've got and I'm not sure how much I should give him so I gave him a tiiiiiny amount, I doubt it'll help him out so I'm just going to wait until we can get some stuff specially for piggies.

Will the tooth ever set itself back in again or is it destined to come out? What ever happens I don't think he can be anesthetized he's getting a bit on the old side and none of my other guinea pigs I've had survived going under.

Sadly one of the piggies in the picture, the dark brown one(butterscotch) has died though. I just hope this wont be the end of Jack too(pale one), I get rather too attached to my piggies.

[Foggycreek]

Vitamin C is the same for humans as for pigs. About 25 mg a day is fine. Buy children's 100 mg chewable C and cut it into fourths.

He may lose the tooth, he may not. Most times teeth grow back, but if he has a root infection it may not. Pigs can do fine missing incisors but you will need to take care with his diet, making it easier for him to get the vegetables/greens back to the molars.

[Olivitree]

Thank you! I've actually discovered the tooth is broken 3 quarters or so of the way down, whats best, leave it attatched or have a vet deal with it?
I've been told piggy teeth aren't as sensative as ours, is that true or is it a bit of a myth?

We're going to take him to the vet tomorrow we think but I'd just like to know what to expect, I really don't want him to go under anasthetic is all as I'm sure he's a bit old to be able to recover.

[Foggycreek]

How old is he?

[Olivitree]

He's getting on for 6 years old, his tooth turns out just to be broken, HOWEVER it keeps breaking!! It's driving me bats I think he's going to end up eating it. Could it just be a deficiency in something?