Why Does It Occur?

There are multiple reasons behind why your teeth can move. If left over time, teeth movement can result in a crowded and misaligned mouth. This can cause major issues with your bite and making simple things such as eating and chewing very uncomfortable! 
Here are a few of the most common ones Tooth Fairy patients present to our dentists with:

• Natural Reasons

As you get older, it is common for your teeth – bottom ones especially, to start to move a little. This often is due to various physiological changes that occur in your mouth e.g. lower jaw shrinkage. This shrinkage may also occur with your lips too. If the lips get tighter, this pulls in your cheeks resulting in more pressure being applied to your teeth. If teeth are exposed to increase pressure, they will move away from the direction of the force, leading to movement commonly seen as crowding of the lower jaw.  

• Gum Disease

One of the common manifestations of gum disease is when the teeth start to move. Gum disease (periodontitis) is caused by increased plaque levels and social factors such as smoking. There also is a higher prevalence in patients suffering from certain medical conditions such as diabetes. If left untreated, gum disease ultimately will result in bone loss.  It is your bone that holds the teeth in their correct position so losing bone support means its is easier for teeth to drift and move. Again, this is commonly seen on the lower front teeth. 

• Relapse following previous teeth straightening

Your teeth always want to move back into their original position after they have been moved using braces. This movement can occur shortly after or sometimes many years down the line following teeth straightening treatment. Therefore it is very common among adults in their 20-30s who had braces as teenagers. This is why it is very important to have long term retention to keep the teeth in place.