When you think of aging, gray hair and wrinkles are probably the first things that come to mind. Unfortunately, the natural process of aging can also affect the appearance of your teeth. Even if you were blessed with naturally straight teeth in your younger years or achieved a perfect smile through braces treatment, you may notice your teeth start to shift after age 40.
Your teeth may spread apart if a muscle in the front of your mouth relaxes as you age. If you have gum disease, your teeth may also spread apart. Teeth spreading may also be the result of nail biting, tongue thrusting, or another oral habit that you often engage in.
Aging may also cause your teeth to overlap. This is likely to happen if your jaw bone has changed as you got older and taken a toll on the symmetry of your mouth. Your teeth may also collapse if they are severely worn down, you have a missing tooth that you did not replace, or you have gapped teeth.
The good news is that even if your teeth do shift with age, there are a number of things you can do to get them back into their ideal positions. If your teeth have gaps or appear crooked, porcelain veneers may fix the problem. They are made of a thin material and a permanent solution to many cosmetic issues.
Another option for resolving teeth shifting after the age of 40 is Invisalign. Invisalign is a popular way for adults and teens to correct flawed teeth and achieve beautiful smiles in a discreet and comfortable manner. With Invisalign, there are no brackets, wires, or food restrictions.
How to Prevent Teeth Shifting
Fortunately, there are some ways you can prevent teeth shifting as you get older. Here are our recommendations:
Wear a Retainer
If you’ve undergone a braces or Invisalign in the past, it’s important to wear your retainer. A retainer is designed to prevent your teeth from moving back to their original positions. If you believe you’ll forget to wear your retainer or lose it, speak to us about a permanent retainer that can prevent these issues. Even though wearing a retainer may seem like a hassle at first, it can help you avoid the hassle of fixing shifted teeth.
Take Immediate Action
As soon as you notice your teeth are shifting, let us know. We can investigate your mouth and figure out if there is a root cause of the shifting. Then, we can design a customized treatment plan to help get your teeth back into tip-top shape. The longer you wait to take care of your teeth shifting, the more difficult, time-consuming, and expensive it will be to resolve the problem.
Take Care of Your Teeth
It may seem obvious but simply taking great care of your teeth can reduce the risk of teeth shifting. Brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, visit the dentist every six months or so for a routine exam and professional cleaning and refrain from bad habits like smoking or teeth grinding.
Visit the Orthodontist Yearly
Even if you got your braces off years ago or never had braces, it’s a good idea to visit an orthodontist once a year. An orthodontist can inform you as soon as they start to see signs of shifting and resolve problems like a poorly fitting retainer that may no longer be doing its job.
Schedule an Appointment at RVOrthodontics
If your teeth have shifted and you are looking for a solution, don’t hesitate to contact RVOrthodontics to make an appointment today. We look forward to hearing from you!
You can read this article in Spanish here – ¿Por qué mis dientes cambian después de 40 años?
