Common Reasons Why Your Teeth Shift After Dental Procedures

James Roland has explained various reasons why teeth shift over time and what we can do to control this. In this article, Woodlawn Orthodontics decodes James Roland’s points, adding a few of their own. Read on to know more.  (Source: Healthline, Why Teeth Shift After Dental Procedures and Over Time, By James Roland, Medically reviewed by Rooz Khosravi, DMD, PhD, MSD, November 11, 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/teeth-shifting ).

Why do teeth shift even after orthodontic treatments?

James Roland explains that your teeth are in a constant state of movement, even if it’s not visible to the naked eye. This shift continues gradually throughout your life, even after you have undergone orthodontic treatments like wearing a retainer or braces for misaligned teeth.

Woodlawn Orthodontics elaborates, “Individuals with a fixed or lingual retainer may experience some degree of tooth movement. This is a retainer that is bonded to the teeth after orthodontic treatments. After braces, teeth may shift due to your gums and jawbone health. Suppose gum disease or any other health issues have resulted in bone loss. In that case, it becomes difficult for the teeth to remain firmly anchored in their position.”

Other reasons why teeth shift

According to James Roland, there are many other reasons for teeth shifting. These include misaligned teeth, tooth extraction, tooth loss, teeth grinding, gum disease, and jawbone growth. James Roland also mentions that tooth shifting is a side-effect noticed by people undergoing CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

“Your teeth are subjected to various pressures and stresses throughout the day, even from simple activities like talking or pressing your tongue against your teeth to produce specific sounds. The muscles involved in facial expressions like smiling, sneezing, and coughing also add more pressure to your teeth,” adds Woodlawn Orthodontics.

“While these stressors may cause slight changes in tooth alignment, they could be significant enough to warrant braces in adulthood. In addition, other more substantial factors could contribute to tooth movement over time. Nevertheless, there are ways to manage teeth shifting with orthodontics for all ages,” Woodlawn Orthodontics reiterates.

How to control teeth shifting

James Roland advises that teeth shifting can be controlled by using a removable retainer after you stop wearing braces. There are treatments available in orthodontics for all ages. You could also adapt orthodontic solutions like fixed retainers if you have a higher tendency of teeth shifting. James Roland shares that maintaining good dental hygiene and addressing bad habits like teeth grinding can also help control teeth movement.

Woodlawn Orthodontics agrees, “Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting the dentist regularly can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. This can prevent tooth loss and reduce the risk of teeth shifting. Avoiding bad habits and addressing dental issues is a big help. If you have misaligned teeth, crooked or crowded teeth, orthodontic solutions can help straighten them and prevent shifting.”

James Roland explains that throughout your life, your teeth may undergo imperceptible or significant movement as a result of experiencing orthodontic solutions. This movement may necessitate the attention of a dentist or orthodontist.

“There are solutions in orthodontics for all ages,” believes Woodlawn Orthodontics. “Consistently wearing a retainer after braces removal is one way to minimize shifting. Another important step is to maintain good dental hygiene. Regular visits to the dentist can help identify changes in your bite or smile, enabling earlier rather than later intervention,” concludes Woodlawn Orthodontics.