In general, the main threat to your smile is harmful bacteria. After all, said microbes can cause tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and worse. However, you should still watch out for other risks. Shifting teeth, in particular, could lead you to develop a crooked smile or misaligned jaw. As such, you should see your Dublin dentist for care if they start moving out of alignment. To learn more, here’s a summary of what causes teeth to shift and how dental treatments can help.
Why *Are* My Teeth Shifting?
Teeth naturally shift in your mouth over time. That said, they often do so for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common include the following:
Bone Loss
As you move into middle age and beyond, your body’s bone density begins to decrease. Among other things, this process also affects your jawbone. Namely, it can weaken the connections that attach teeth to the jaw, causing your pearly whites to move.
Tooth Loss
Ultimately, smile gaps do more than just look unpleasant. These spaces left by missing teeth shift your other pearly whites toward themselves, whether through lateral or vertical movement. As that happens, your smile will slowly take on a crooked shape. In fact, the process can lead to further tooth loss if left untreated!
Tooth Grinding
As it turns out, grinding your teeth (i.e., bruxism) can cause them to move through force and wear. Since the habit is often unconscious, though, many patients don’t recognize it as a factor in their shifting bites.
Besides potential tooth shifting, bruxism can trigger enamel reduction and changes to your teeth’s shape.
Tongue Thrusting
Even your tongue placement could lead to tooth movement.
For example, take the tongue thrust. Also known as a reverse swallow, this movement is when the tongue pushes against the teeth while swallowing, speaking, and at rest. Said push can gradually create a gap between the forward upper and lower teeth.
How Dental Treatments Can Help
Fortunately, your Dublin dentist has ways to correct shifting teeth. Some procedures they might suggest are:
- Invisalign – Just as teeth can shift out of alignment, Invisalign can put them back in place. In particular, the latter’s clear aligning trays would move and straighten your pearly whites.
- Porcelain Veneers – If you’re more interested in hiding crooked teeth than fixing them, you could go for porcelain veneers. These ceramic layers hide stains, chips, cracks, and tooth misalignments.
As you can see, you should keep an eye out for teeth movement and cleanliness. That way, you can get the help you need from your Dublin dentist!
About Your Dentist in Dublin
Dr. Eric Buck is a dentist based in Dublin, OH. Since earning his DDS from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, he’s always strived to meet his patients’ smile goals. As such, his specialties span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, including emergency care. His office is also a certified provider of Invisalign clear aligners. Dr. Buck currently practices at Distinctive Smiles and is reachable at his website or by phone at (614)-792-1800.