Why Do Our Teeth Shift?
Many of us wore braces for years as kids. “You will thank us when you’re older,” our parents would say when we begged and pleaded to have them removed. But hey mom and dad, now we’re older and our teeth haven’t stayed in place. Didn’t we nip this in the bud in eighth grade when we wearing braces? Why are our teeth all of a sudden not as straight as before?
There are a variety of reasons that teeth shift—genetics, age, grinding, bad habits and cavities are just some. The end result can be spaces, gaps, crookedness and misalignment, but don’t worry, that can all be fixed. If you can identify early on what is causing the changes of your teeth, you may be able to prevent your shifting from getting worse.
So, why are your teeth shifting?
Genetics. While you may have been born with straight teeth, your genes can dictate shifting later in life.
Cavities and decay. When cavities are filled, the composite (plastic) can cause changes to your teeth and occasionally your bite. If decay is not treated, it can spread to the gums and bone, eating away the bone that holds the teeth in place, and loosening them.
Age. The area between the teeth starts to wear away as we age and enamel thins out. Since our lower teeth are naturally thinner, they wear out the fastest. The more wear and tear on the lower teeth, the less able they are to withstand the force of the top teeth when biting down, causing shifting.
Grinding. Grinding forces the lower jaw forward and puts the tension on the upper teeth. The continual thrusting affects the position of the upper arch, pushing it out of alignment.
Tooth loss. The loss of a tooth will affect the growth and movement of the surrounding teeth (May 2011, New Beauty)
