Braces are common in teens and kids, leading to many people assuming that teeth don’t shift after that age. But this may not be true! As children grow, their teeth tend to move more as their jaw grows, and shifting can happen anytime in life. There are plenty of reasons behind teeth shifting, and several of these can work simultaneously.
Periodontal Disease
You know those lectures your dentist gives you about carefully brushing and flossing? Those lectures are for a reason. Periodontal disease refers to any illness in your gums or the bone beneath your teeth. Those types of tissues support your teeth and hold them together. When they begin to break down, your teeth start moving.
Jaw Bone Changes
Your facial bones change throughout your life. Your lower jaw particularly impacts the way your teeth shift. As you age, your lower jaw grows forward and becomes narrower at the same time, leading to teeth shifting. First, when your lower jaw becomes cramped, your lower teeth crowd together and overlap. Second, the jaw changes also affect your bite or the way your top and bottom teeth come together. This change in pressure adds up over time and can eventually cause your upper teeth to develop gaps.
Lip Aging
Your facial anatomy becomes smaller and thinner as you age, and your lips are no exception. As you age, your lips get smaller and tighter. It may not feel like a big difference, but that small change puts pressure on your teeth over time. That added pressure could shift your teeth.
Grinding Your Teeth
Teeth clenching and teeth grinding don’t only happen when your head hits the pillow. It’s also a typical response to stress. People may not even realize that they clench or grind their teeth while they’re awake and under stress. Clenching and grinding exert pressure on your teeth, which can shift them in different directions.
For more information, talk to the experts at Vintage Oral Surgery. Call us today at (281) 800 8852.