Many of us wore braces for years as kids. “You will thank us when you’re older,” our parents would say when we begged and pleaded to have them removed. Now we’re older and our teeth haven’t stayed in place. Didn’t we nip this in the bud around aged 12 when we wearing braces? Why are our teeth all of a sudden not as straight as before???
There are a variety of reasons that teeth shift—genetics, age, grinding, not having or wearing a retainer, bad habits and cavities are just some. The end result can be spaces, gaps, crookedness and misalignment, but don’t worry, that can all be fixed with a brace like an Inman aligner. If you can identify early on what is causing the changes of your teeth, you may be able to prevent your shifting from getting worse.
So, why are your teeth shifting?
Genetics. While you may have been born with straight teeth, your genes can dictate shifting later in life.
Cavities and decay. When cavities are not filled, the adjacent teeth can shift,and also can effect the way that your teeth bite together put forces in such a way to move the teeth. If decay is not treated, it can spread to the gums and bone, eating away the bone that holds the teeth in place, and loosening them causing them to move. So the message is to treat both gum and teeth problems early to lessen the possible consequences.
Age. The area between the teeth starts to wear away as we age and enamel thins out. Since our lower teeth are naturally thinner, they wear out the fastest. The more wear and tear on the lower teeth, the less able they are to withstand the force of the top teeth when biting down, causing shifting.
Grinding. Grinding forces the lower jaw forward and puts the tension on the upper teeth. The continual thrusting affects the position of the upper arch, pushing it out of alignment. This is where a retainer or a grinding splint can really stop the continual shifting as it will hold the teeth in a constant position.
Tooth loss. The loss of a tooth will affect the growth and movement of the surrounding teeth. If a tooth has to be lost the best course of action is to replace the missing tooth with a denture, bridge or Implants.
Book and appointment with our Orthodontist to stop the shifting now