Why Do My Teeth Shift Over Time?

Your teeth can be easily considered a permanent fixture in your mouth, when the reality is anything but. While your permanent teeth may be more secure than your baby teeth, they can and do shift over time. Here, we’ll look at why and what you can to either correct or even potentially avoid the issue.

Teeth React to Pressure

Teeth react to the forces that surround them, and that doesn’t solely refer to teeth getting knocked out due to a sudden injury. There are more subtle forces at play that can impact your bite and the position of each tooth. Two of the biggest causes are loss of jawbone density and teeth grinding, both of which cause shifting.

Teeth Shifts and Oral Health

Most people take note of their teeth shifting because it impacts the quality of their smile. Crowding or spacing may go from barely noticeable to the only thing that you can see. However, the much bigger concern is that misaligned teeth impact your bite, which can have permanent consequences on your oral health.

From thumbsucking to gum disease, there are multiple ways for your teeth to change over time. In some cases, fixing the problem is as easy as wearing an over-the-counter nightguard. For more severe cases, you’ll need orthodontia in Hackensack, NJ to help shift the teeth back. This may mean clear aligners or braces, but it can also refer to custom-fitted devices, like palate expanders or head gear.

If you have questions about shifting teeth or just want to explore your options, contact State Street Smiles today to find out how our orthodontists and dentists in Hackensack, NJ make our patients more resilient against external forces, whether that’s jawbone loss or a stray uncooked seed.