Have you ever wondered why you have gaps between your teeth? There’s even a fancy term for it. Diastema refers to a gap between your teeth, and occurs anywhere in your mouth. More often than not, it appears between your two front teeth. But what are its causes and how can we treat it? Read on to learn more!
Are gaps in your teeth a problem
Diastema, or more commonly known as gap teeth, refers to the noticeable spaces between two adjacent teeth, particularly your front incisors. It’s something that happens naturally to your teeth, and can often be found in your upper front teeth. Gaps between your teeth can be small or large and vary from person to person. It’s a pretty common issue that most people face, and sometimes they don’t like how they look in the mirror or find that food gets trapped easily in those gaps.
What causes gaps in your teeth?
Genetic factors
Your tooth size and jaw structure are greatly determined by your genetics, and can affect whether you have gaps in your teeth or not.
Gum tissue
Properly aligned and healthy gums help with maintaining your teeth in their original positions and can prevent potential gaps. However, receding gums (brought about by gum disease) can expose more of the tooth surface and alter the appearance of your smile, potentially contributing to gaps forming between your teeth.
Thumb-sucking
As children, we may have developed bad habits like thumb-sucking. However such habits may cause gaps between your teeth. We bet you didn’t know that right?
How do we close those gaps?
Invisible Braces
There are various ways to close gaps between your teeth, including getting clear aligners for your smile. Metal braces or invisible braces can help close gaps between your front teeth, or any other gaps present in your mouth.
Veneers and bonding
Other ways of correcting gaps in your teeth are veneers and bonding. Veneers are thin porcelain or composite shells custom-made to cover the front surface of teeth, and help with closing gaps. On the other hand, dental bonding involves applying a tooth-colored resin to affected areas, and sculpting and polishing them to match your teeth.
Retainers
Another solution is to wear retainers after completing treatment with braces. These play a crucial role in preventing any teeth gaps from getting larger by keeping teeth in their correct positions after clear aligner treatment.
Is there a way to prevent large gaps between teeth
While the size of gaps between your teeth can be influenced by various factors, there are some ways to prevent this from happening.
Frequent dentist visits
Regular dental check-ups are essential, allowing dentists to detect potential issues early on and provide timely interventions.
Good oral hygiene
Maintaining good oral hygiene practices, such as regular brushing and flossing, helps prevent gum diseases that can contribute to gaps.
Correcting poor habits
Discouraging habits like thumb sucking in childhood can also prevent gaps in your teeth. In cases where genetics may contribute to teeth gaps, early intervention can help with aligning your teeth properly.
How do we manage small gaps in teeth
Going for regular dental checkups are crucial to monitor the development of small gaps and address any potential issues early on. Undergoing braces treatment, can help with closing those gaps. And if you’re thinking about that, why not try clear aligners? These not only shift your teeth into their correct positions, but are also very discreet too!
It's about time we closed those gaps
There are so many ways to correct gaps in your teeth. One of the simplest ways to do so is through a free dental examination where we analyse your smile and determine how we can best treat it. Learn more about how Zenyum can transform your smile today and reduce gaps in your teeth!
Your smile transformation awaits!
Zenyum Invisible Braces can correct gaps in your teeth, so you can have the smile you truly deserve.
