The Best 4 Ways to Keep Teeth Shifting Away
Teeth shifting can affect people of any age at virtually any time during their life. In fact, teeth shifting can be affecting you today! As trusted orthodontic specialists in Peabody, Dr. Pavlo and the entire team at Pavlo Orthodontics are here to help you with all your orthodontic needs.
At Pavlo Orthodontics, we believe that every patient deserves compassionate, individualized care. We understand that teeth treatments in Peabody are not one size fits all. Hence, we offer various treatment options to provide all our patients with sufficient treatment options that will be the best to correct their specific issues.
Dr. Pavlo will craft a custom treatment for each patient, taking into account their individual needs. Our team cares about your comfort, and we will do everything in our power to make you feel at ease during your orthodontic treatment.
At Pavlo Orthodontics, we want to help you change your smile so that you can change the world!
On that note, let’s take a closer look at teeth shifting, what it is, and how we can help you.
What Do We Mean by Teeth Shifting?
Teeth shifting refers to your teeth moving. Although the thought of your teeth moving can be scary and stressful, don’t worry. Naturally and with age, your jawbone grows forward and becomes narrower. At first, this can cause your lower teeth to become more crowded.
As time passes, the change in your teeth can affect your bite. These changes may be so minor that nothing needs to be done. Teeth shifting can affect both upper and lower teeth.
You can know if your teeth have shifted if you notice any of the below:
- Retainer no longer fits
- New Gaps in your teeth
- Increased teeth sensitivity
- Changes in your smile
Why Does Teeth Shifting Happen?
We usually think of our teeth as immovable, and that’s completely normal.
Just as normal as it is for them to move or shift. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why our teeth move or shift as time passes.
Normal Aging
A person’s face changes as they go from childhood to teenage years, and your facial bones also change throughout your entire life. The way your teeth shift will largely be due to your lower jaw.
As we get older, our lower jaw grows forward. And at the same time becomes more narrow in shape. This leads to teeth shifting in a couple of different ways. When your lower jaw becomes narrower, it can cause your lower teeth to crowd together and overlap.
Secondly, the changes in your jaw will also bring changes to your bite. This change and adjusted pressure adds up and can at some point cause your upper teeth to develop gaps.
Periodontal Disease
We are all familiar with the common recommendations given to us by our Orthodontists. Brush and floss daily after every meal, if possible, even after snacks. And the ever so important at least rinse after consuming sugary foods or drinks.
Periodontal disease includes gum disease and tooth decay, as well as any other illness or decay in your gums or the bone beneath your teeth. Your gums and bones are crucial for supporting your teeth. And also for keeping them in place, without shifting. When they start to break down, your teeth may feel loose and can start shifting. Keep in mind that you might require careful coordination between periodontists and orthodontists to ensure your treatment efficiency and good dental health during treatment for shifted teeth.
Orthodontic Treatments
If you have undergone any type of teeth treatment in Peabody to straighten your teeth, close gaps between them, or even fix a minor bite issue. Most likely, you have used an Orthodontic device such as braces. Braces, whether traditional or ceramic and even aligning trays, such as Invisalign, are explicitly designed to change your teeth’ natural position.
With adjustments made by your Orthodontics specialist and applying pressure over time, braces can slightly loosen your teeth and shift them into their correct position. When all of this is over, the result is the happier, healthier, and more harmonious smile you have always wanted.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding or clenching is more common than most people think. The majority of people might not even realize they do this, as it mostly occurs during their sleep. The grinding and clenching of teeth could also happen as an involuntary response to stress or anger.
Although you might not think much of it, grinding your teeth puts added pressure on them, and that pressure can be the cause of your teeth shifting or moving in different directions.
Missing Teeth
Trauma to the face or mouth, gum disease, and tooth decay due to the lack of proper and constant dental hygiene results in a large number of people who have at least one missing tooth.
When a tooth is lost, the remaining teeth will try to make up for the additional space and start moving. This type of teeth shifting at the end of the day may cause additional gaps between other teeth that were fine at the beginning.
How Can I Prevent Teeth Shifting?
Normal teeth shifting due to age is impossible to fight. However, there are a couple of things you can get in the habit of to help your teeth stay firmly in their place. Below we will take a look at a couple of things you can do.
Wear Your Retainer
It is imperative that if you have undergone Orthodontic treatment with braces, you wear your retainer for the time instructed by your orthodontist. Your teeth will take time to adjust and stay in their new position, and your retainer’s job is to make them stay there.
Keep Excellent Oral Hygiene
We have all heard this since we are young enough to remember, but brushing and flossing is key to keeping your teeth healthy and in place.
Regular brushing and flossing help remove trapped food that enables bacteria to deteriorate gums and bones. Which in turn leads to teeth shifting over time.
Schedule Regular Cleanings With a Professional
Regular teeth cleanings with a professional are just as important as the oral hygiene routine you keep at home.
Professional cleanings help remove trapped bacteria and decay around teeth that a standard toothbrush and dental floss can’t accomplish. In addition, during your cleaning, your orthodontist may be able to identify issues and how to correct them while they are still at an early stage.
Stop Grinding Your Teeth
As previously mentioned, teeth grinding puts more pressure on your teeth, leading them to move over time. Teeth grinding or clenching can be a response to stress or anger.
However, it might be happening while you sleep without you realizing it.
If you are experiencing grinding or clenching at night, your orthodontist may recommend using a mouthguard. Mouthguards are made of a thin, plastic material similar to a retainer and are used while sleeping.
Whatever orthodontic issue you are experiencing, remember that as Orthodontic specialists in Peabody, the team at Pavlo Orthodontics is ready to help you. We want to help you change your smile so that you can change the world! Click here to schedule your complimentary exam with Dr. Pavlo today!
We look forward to welcoming you to our orthodontic family.