As if aging itself isn’t challenging enough, you may notice that your teeth have also started to shift, even if they were straight for the years leading up to this point. So, what’s the story?
It is common and even normal for teeth to shift as we age. You are not alone. There are many potential factors contributing to the shift:
- Stress on your teeth, such grinding while you sleep.
- Bone density and muscle softening. with age, the density of your jaw bone and muscle mass reduces, and the jaw starts shrinking in size. This results in a disparity between the size of the jawbone and the teeth, which may lead to crowding or overlapping of teeth, according to the American Association of Orthodontists.
- Failure to wear retainers. If you’ve had orthodontic treatment previously and aren’t still wearing retainers, your body wants your teeth to revert back to their crooked state, leaving your once straight teeth less so as you age.
- Poor dental hygiene. If poor oral care has caused you to lose a tooth, most likely other teeth will shift into that space causing misalignment.
- Injury or impact to your teeth or mouth.
The good news is that there is a solution. Make sure your oral care is at its best by visiting your General Dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups to ward off poor hygiene or gum disease as a cause for your shifting.
Then to straighten what has already shifted, head to Tollgate Orthodontics for a free consultation. You may be surprised at how affordable the solution can be, especially if you address the shifting sooner rather than later. We have very discreet and affordable clear aligner options and affordable payment plans to help you recapture your beautiful smile. At the end of treatment, we include a clear retainer to help you keep that beautiful, newly straight smile for years to come!