Your teeth are always moving, even if you can’t see them. Even after braces or other dental work, your teeth will continue to move somewhat throughout your life.

This movement is caused by several reasons, including:

• the changing shape of your jaw as you get older
• pressures from eating and talking
• your teeth moving back to their natural positions after orthodontic work
• other possible health issues, such as gum disease or teeth grinding

There are several things you may do to maintain your teeth in good alignment. Continue reading to find out why teeth shift and what you can do to reduce their movement.

Orthodontic procedures can shift your teeth

Your teeth have been displaced from their normal placements if you’ve undergone braces or other orthodontic operations to fix the dental alignment.

When you remove your braces or stop using alignment trays like Invisalign treatment, your teeth may begin to shift back to their original positions. This is quite natural. Some people may experience more noticeable movement, while others may experience very little movement.

People who use a fixed or lingual retainer following orthodontic treatment, which is a retainer that is permanently glued to your teeth, are also at risk of tooth movement.

According to a study in America, tooth shifting occurs most of the time when one of the retainer’s bonds fails or the retainer was not securely bonded.

Another reason teeth may shift after braces is due to gum and jawbone health. If bone loss has happened as a consequence of gum disease or another health issue, it will be more difficult for your teeth to remain fixed in place once your braces are removed.

Teeth shifting after tooth removal

If you have a tooth pulled, the teeth around it may begin to shift to cover the vacuum.

Wisdom teeth extraction may not create any severe complications. Many people live happily ever after having their wisdom teeth or other posterior molars removed.

The chance of losing a canine or incisor tooth is higher. In the new space created by the extraction, the teeth on each side may migrate toward one another.

The easiest option to avoid this issue is to replace lost teeth with dental implants or a bridge that covers the missing tooth or teeth’s gap.

Other, more serious reasons, such as genetics, may induce tooth migration over time. These are some examples:

Jawbone growth is for everyone

As you become older, your jawbone moves forward and narrows. This might cause your bottom teeth to become more crowded initially. Changes in your bottom teeth might impact your bite over time, creating a shift in your upper teeth.

The modifications may be so minor that nothing has to be done. Some patients, however, may require tooth extraction, bridgework, or implants to correct their bite.

Gum diseases also can change your teeth position

Gum disease, or periodontitis, weakens the gums that help keep teeth in place. Loose or shifting teeth are one of many serious complications of gum disease.

Take teeth grinding seriously

Grinding your teeth may cause them to move over time as well as wear them down. This disorder, known as bruxism, is quite prevalent.

In a 2016 poll of over 6,000 adults conducted by Trusted Source, 8.6 per cent reported grinding their teeth during sleeping. According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Oral and Facial Pain and Headache, 22 to 31 per cent of persons have bruxism when awake.

CPAP or Continuous positive airway pressure

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is wearing a mask over your nose (though some CPAP masks also cover your mouth) to receive a constant flow of air into your lungs.

CPAP was created for those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. During sleep, the tissue in the back of your throat relaxes, blocking the passage of oxygen into your airways.

According to a 2018 research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, CPAP treatment can induce minor tooth movement. The researchers recommend that CPAP users monitor any changes in their bite and engage with an orthodontist to avoid or correct any substantial shifting.

Is there any treatment to stop teeth shifting?

Removable retainer

Your detachable retainers will be manufactured just for you. We’ll take imprints of your teeth once we remove your braces. We fit your retainers the same day we remove your braces to minimize any tooth movement.

Your orthodontist or orthodontic therapist will advise you on how frequently you should wear your removable retainers, but in most situations, you will only need to wear them at night. When you’re not wearing them, keep them safe because they tend to vanish.

Permanent retainers

Fixed, or lingual, retainers are generally quite effective in maintaining tooth alignment and should be considered as a treatment once your braces come off.

If you get a fixed retainer, be sure to have it checked regularly by your orthodontist. A problem with a bond to just one tooth could lead to larger problems requiring more orthodontic treatment.

Address teeth grinding

You may be unaware that you grind your teeth, but a professional dentist will be able to detect the indicators by observing the wear patterns on certain teeth.

Consult your dentist about treatment options if you grind your teeth. Mouthguards are beneficial when used at night.

Good dental hygiene

As with any aspect of oral health, the simplest but most important method is to practice proper dental hygiene all year. That is to say:

• brushing at least twice a day
• flossing every day
• getting regular dental checkups
• avoiding behaviours that can harm your dental health, such as smoking

If gum disease is a problem, effective dental hygiene may necessitate more regular dentist visits and procedures such as tooth scaling and root planing. If you are struggling with gum issues during your orthodontic treatment, it is better to visit your dentist every week to reduce the chance of severe gingivitis.