It is never a good thing when your teeth shift. Teeth shifting happens for various reasons. Before you learn how to prevent teeth shifting, it is important to start with the causes of teeth shifting. In general, the following factors can cause teeth shifting:
- Age – As we get older, our teeth naturally shift and move toward the front.
- Teeth grinding and jaw constriction – When you constantly grind your teeth and clench your jaw tightly, it can cause your teeth to shift. Part of the reason is that teeth-grinding causes loss of enamel. When you lose enamel, your teeth are more likely to move.
- Gum disease – Gum disease causes a loosening of the dental pocket or area that holds your teeth. Connective tissue and collagen keep your teeth connected to your jaw. This connection begins to deteriorate with gum disease. As a result, your teeth shift. The most common gum disease is gingivitis. Gingivitis results in swelling of the gums due to the overabundance of bacteria in the dental pocket.
- Braces – Dental braces shift teeth to make them straight. However, in some rare instances, having braces as a child can lead to teeth shifting as we get older. This is because the braces manipulate your teeth, and as a result, they are more prone to movement.
- Accidents – If you had an accident with your teeth as a child, your teeth might shift when you get older.
- Fill in the gap – If you are missing a tooth, chances are the tooth next to it will begin to shift to fill in space. The tooth that is above the missing tooth may also shift downward. As we are biting, our teeth want to align with each other. If that missing tooth causes a misalignment when you bite, over time, your teeth will shift to fill in the gap.
How To Prevent Teeth Shifting
Exercising great oral hygiene can help prevent teeth from shifting. Because the majority of teeth shifting is due to gum disease, good oral hygiene starts with taking great care of your teeth. Seeing a periodontist can minimize and reverse a lot of gum diseases. If you have lost a tooth for any reason, replace it with a dental implant. Bridges may also be a resolution to missing teeth as a prosthetic tooth can fill in the missing space. This will cause your teeth to stay in place. Speak with a Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza professional about retainers and mouth guards that will prevent teeth grinding and reverse mesial drift.
There are many things you can do to restore your smile once teeth shifting or tooth loss has occurred. Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza wants to help you both in your preventative efforts and your restorative efforts.
Contact Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza
We will work with you to prevent teeth shifting. Our practice is dedicated to bringing dental health with a smile. Dental visits do not have to be a dreaded practice. We are courteous, professional, and pleased to serve you and your family. If you are especially anxious about seeing the dentist, we have special accommodations for you. Sedation dentistry is a specialty at Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza. In fact, our entire dental network provides this service. Sedation dentistry includes oral sedation, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and intravenous sedation.
Some other services we perform include:
- Dental crowns and bridges
- Emergency dental services
- Fillings and sealants
- Fluoride treatments
- Sedation and dental anxiety
Learn how to prevent teeth from shifting as soon as possible. Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza has special offers to make your experience here both affordable and dentally sound. Call today at 281-974-3434.
