You might notice your teeth shifting out of alignment as you grow up. This process is natural, but it can cause problems if left untreated. It’ll likely lead to a crooked smile, not to mention cause damage to your oral health. Fortunately, you can start solving your teeth-shifting problem by learning its cause. Once that’s done, your dentist can apply the proper treatment to make your smile straight again. That said, here are four causes of shifting teeth and how your dental practice can fix them.
Common Causes of Shifting Teeth
When it comes to teeth shifting, there are several possible causes. Some of the most common ones are:
Jaw Movement
Your jaw naturally changes in structure over time, which can contribute to tooth movement. In particular, jawbones shifting forward can push upper teeth out of place. The latter then become misaligned, thus altering your bite and causing more pearly whites to shift.
Gum Disease
Because gum disease destroys gum tissue and the jawbone, the resulting deterioration can lead to tooth movement. This outcome isn’t likely as the condition starts as gingivitis. Still, it becomes near-certain when the infection turns into periodontitis. Worse yet, this advanced gum disease can spread to surrounding tissue if left untreated.
Tooth Loss
Missing teeth tend to draw adjacent pearly whites toward the resulting smile gaps. This shift could then cause your smile to become crooked and affect your bite alignment.
Tongue Thrust
Even tongue placement while swallowing can cause tooth movement. In particular, it does so in the form of tongue thrusts. These involuntary pushes of your tongue can create a gap between the forward upper and lower teeth.
How Can My Dentist Correct Shifting Teeth?
Thankfully, dentists have various treatments in their arsenal to correct visibly misaligned teeth. Popular ones include:
- Porcelain Veneers – Dentists often use these ceramic layers to hide flaws like tooth chips, stains, and fractures. Even so, veneers are also useful for concealing dental misalignment.
- Invisalign – Just as teeth can naturally shift into misalignment, Invisalign trays can move them back into their proper position. By wearing these aligners for 22 hours daily for a year, you can turn your crooked smile straight again!
As you can see, shifting teeth aren’t something you have to endure. Talk to your local dentist to learn possible treatment options for your situation.
About the Practice
Transcendent Smiles is a locally-owned dental practice based in Millersville, MD. As led by Dr. Vy Tran, it provides patients with a comprehensive range of smile services. To that end, its staff offers preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dental treatments. The practice is also a qualified provider of periodontal therapy and Invisalign clear aligners. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (410)-729-9090.