Common Reasons Why Teeth Move
Are your teeth are shifting?
When your teeth are no longer aligned and they are shifting, it can happen for a few reasons. It can happen because you are sleeping on one side, or it could be because you grind your teeth.
You may also discover that your teeth are shifting because your dental habits aren’t good. No matter what the cause is, teeth that are shifting can cause a lot of dental problems if you don’t treat it, since teeth that aren’t aligned properly can be harder to clean.
Five Reasons Why Teeth Will Shift
Having dental issues because of shifting teeth is not the only problem you may face. You may also find that you’re having problems with your self-esteem. You have to discover why your teeth aren’t aligned correctly so that you can get the right treatment.
Here is a list of the more common causes:
1. Age Causes Teeth to Drift
When someone grows older, the area between their teeth will naturally wear away. Since teeth on the bottom are thinner, meaning they’ll wear out quicker than the upper teeth, the shifting will slowly happen when the person is biting down.
2. Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching
These are two really bad habits that people have when it comes to their teeth. Either habit can force your bottom or top teeth to go out of alignment because of additional pressure that is placed on them. Many people do it while they’re sleeping, speeding up the process without being aware of it.
3. Tooth Loss Impacts Your Smile
When you lose one of your teeth, it’s smart to fill in the area. Leaving your area like it is will likely cause your teeth around your gap to shift and try to fill the gap. What could happen is that if you have a missing bottom tooth, your teeth next to it will start shifting sideways. Your tooth that’s directly above the gap could also start growing downward.
4. Genetics Plays a Part
This is true even if you were born with teeth that were straight. If you have genes that dictate that your teeth are going to shift when you get older, you may find you have the same problem. Ask relatives to find out whether they have had problems with their teeth shifting. If it’s a problem on one or the other side in the family, you may want to bring it up when you see your dentist.
5. Cavities and Tooth Decay Are Not Good
Having cavities that were filled because of tooth decay may cause shifting in your teeth, particularly if the dentist used plastic filling. Of course, if you don’t get the cavity filled and your decay goes to your gums, you’ll still find that your teeth aren’t aligned since it’s going to eat at that bone which keeps teeth aligned correctly.
Conclusion
No matter the reason why teeth are shifting, having teeth that are misaligned isn’t a big concern. If you get a good dentist to take care of the problem, your teeth ought to remain straight. There are a lot of solutions that you can use for this problem as well. Retainers, cosmetic dentistry, and braces are just a few of the measures that a lot of people take for correcting their shifting teeth. Regularly visit your dentist so that the issues can be dealt with soon.
Questions about Shifting Teeth?
If cosmetic issues are affecting your smile, the team at Island Coast Dentistry can help. Through a comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Skupny can tailor a oral treatment plan that is most effective for you. A beautiful, healthy smile can be yours!
Contact us today to learn more, or schedule a consultation online.