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You’re relaxing at home, sipping your morning cup of coffee, when suddenly it dawns on you, “Where did this teeth gap emerge? Are my teeth moving?!” Firstly, you’re not the only one. Everyone experiences teeth shifting with age; it is like your body adjusting to gravity. But don’t worry, your smile can be maintained!
Why do Teeth Shift with Age?
You might be thinking that after surviving your teenage years with ugly braces, your teeth won’t move anymore, right? Unfortunately, they didn’t receive the notice.
Changes in Bone Density
As your body ages, so does the jawbone, as it grows with age to support your teeth and can shrink or weaken over time, meaning less space for your pearly whites. As a result, your lower teeth might get crowded and overlap in certain situations.
Furthermore, due to changes to your jawbone, you might experience changes in your bite concerning how your bottom and top teeth connect. The additional pressure increases over time and can become the cause of teeth gaps.
Teeth Grinding
All that biting, chewing, and random popcorn kernel munching can affect your teeth. Years of constant teeth grinding can make your pearly whites weak, enabling them to shift to new positions easily.
Grinding does not only take place when you crash the pillow. It can often also occur as a way to deal with stress. Clenching and grinding (bruxism) creates teeth pressure, which can result in tooth mobility.
Tooth Loss
Losing a tooth can also contribute to tooth mobility. When your tooth gets removed, other teeth spread out to occupy the extra space. As a result of this, you might experience gaps developing between your teeth.
Dentists recommend retainers, clear aligners, spacers, and other dental appliances to retain ideal tooth alignment.
The Potential Risk of Ignoring Teeth Shifting
You might be thinking, “So what if teeth shift somewhat? Adds style, right?” While small tooth movement does pose any threat, ignoring tooth mobility can result in a series of less enjoyable issues. These include
Misalignment
If your precious teeth don’t have alignment, your bite can change from a silky smooth symphony to a hard rock concert. This can result in extra teeth sensitivity, wear, and an irregular smile. Plus, eating your favorite food becomes a challenge as chewing is not balanced.
Tooth Damage
Large tooth shifts due to various periodontal reasons can lead to teeth becoming fragile, leading to the possibility of tooth loss. When one tooth gets destabilized, it results in stress on other teeth, which leads to multiple dental issues.
Gum Disease
Misaligned teeth create varied surfaces, making them harder to clean. These new spaces create the ideal space for storing food particles, resulting in plaque and bacteria. This can result in gum damage and infections.
How to Stop Teeth Shifting
Now that you know the potential risks of ignoring teeth shifting, let’s talk about possible teeth-shifting solutions. The good part? You can stop or, in certain situations, even reverse teeth movement with some standard interventions.
At-home Solutions
Some of the ideal interventions for teeth shifting at home include:
Floss
Never underestimate the benefits of flossing your teeth. Maintain your healthy gums to ensure your tooth structure remains ideal.
Use a Custom Night Guard
If you face teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) at night, a tailored night guard is ideal. It reduces teeth’s wear and tear as you sleep the night away.
Use Retainers
Wearing a custom retainer such as that offered by SmilePath can help you keep your teeth alignment in ideal condition.
Clear Aligners
If you haven’t gotten your teeth aligned already, clear aligners from SmilePath enable you to enjoy a discreet and hassle-free way to attain teeth alignment. And no, you won’t be reliving your teenage braces nightmare again. These aligners are almost invisible, and you can also remove aligners for important social events and meals.
Traditional Braces
For many of you suffering from severe dental issues, traditional metal or ceramic braces might be ideal. While these are not as comfortable as removable aligners, they are effective.
Gum Health Maintenance
Maintaining regular check-ins with an experienced dentist can help keep all kinds of gum diseases and recessions at bay and help in dealing with teeth shifting.
In the grand game of aging, teeth shifting is not the worst, but it’s something that you need to be aware of. The good news? With a little extra care and ideal intervention, you can stop your teeth from running away from home.
So be happy and keep smiling, with the knowledge that you have all the tools you need to maintain your dream smile.
FAQs
Can we stop teeth from shifting?
Yes, you can stop teeth shifting by carrying out dental interventions at the right time through devices like retainers, removable aligners, night guards, and braces.
Can we reduce pain resulting from shifting teeth?
Yes, by maintaining regular dental consultations with a dentist, you can ensure timely treatment and intervention. This can include pain-reducing medicine or orthodontic device application.
