Many people visit orthodontists to fix the gaps between their teeth, as they suffer from a lack of self confidence due to this orthodontic concern. In fact, having a gap between your teeth, known as a diastema, may be your sole reason for wanting braces to fix it.
Can Braces Fix Gaps in Teeth?
Braces are designed to pull teeth together, using tension to apply continuous pressure to teeth until they are moved into the right spot. This makes them well-suited as a method to close a gap between teeth.
There are many different types of braces you can use to close the gap between your teeth; you could choose metal braces, gold braces, lingual braces, or Invisalign. Whichever type of braces you choose, they will most likely be able to close the gap between your teeth.
Are There Any Risks Associated With Gaps Between Teeth?
Having gaps between teeth actually does increase your risk of developing additional dental problems. Typically, most people only think of gaps in their teeth as having an impact on the aesthetics of their smile. However, leaving gaps between your teeth has health risks. Your teeth are meant to keep your gums protected, so having an exposed section of your gums can increase the risk of gum damage. This trauma to your gums can happen when you bite down too hard, or if you get food stuck between your teeth, and can leave you at risk of losing teeth as a result.
What Causes a Gap Between Teeth?
There are many potential causes for gaps between your teeth. Sometimes, a gap is simply genetic, caused by the size of your teeth being too small for the size of your jaw bone. The tissue bordering your top two front teeth and your gums can develop an overgrowth and cause a separation between the teeth.
There are other contributing factors to having gaps in your teeth, such as having different-sized teeth, missing teeth, or teeth that are crowded. Children who often suck their thumb put pressure on their front teeth, which causes them to pull forward and create a gap. Pressure can also be put on the front teeth by tongue thrusts instead of correct swallowing reflexes. While swallowing, instead of positioning the tongue at the roof of the mouth, the tongue is pushed against the front teeth in a tongue thrust. Gum disease is another possible way to develop gaps between teeth. Gum disease causes the gums and tissues to become inflamed, leading to loss of teeth and gaps.
Having a gap between teeth can be caused by a myriad of factors, but fixing it should be a priority to keep your gums and teeth healthy. Using braces to pull your teeth together and fix gaps in your teeth can prevent gum disease and other orthodontic issues.
Braces can also correct other orthodontic problems, such as crooked teeth, overbites, and underbites. Treatment with braces or Invisalign typically takes at least a few months, but those months create a solid aesthetic foundation for the rest of your life. There are ways to speed up the process, but usually, it’s important to go slow and steady to make sure things are done right.
Contact I Song Orthodontics today to start the process of achieving a more aesthetically-pleasing smile and the confidence that comes with it. We can provide you with more information on orthodontics, including how to correct an overbite, fixing an underbite, and open bite correction, as well as how having straight teeth can improve your oral health and overall health.
