Why is the gap between my teeth increasing?

Q: Do gaps in teeth get bigger with age?

A small diastema is not a serious concern, but its especially important to maintain proper oral hygiene to prevent any decay or damage, and always remember, gaps will increase in size as you get older. That is why it is important to close them on time to avoid future issues.

Do you have gaps between your teeth? This space between your pearly whites is a common dental occurrence — orthodontists call this a ‘Diastema’ — and can appear for a number of reasons. Some patients with a diastema like the individual character it brings, others might prefer a more conventional smile. Sometimes, spaces between teeth can be a warning sign too. Whether you don’t mind the gap or prefer to close it, you’ll find all the info you need here.

Índice Show

Do gaps in teeth get bigger with age?
How can I reduce gap between my teeth?
Why is my teeth spacing out?
How can I reduce the gap in my teeth naturally?

1 What causes gaps between teeth?
2 Do gaps in teeth get bigger with age?
3 Can bad habits form gaps in teeth?
4 Are gapped teeth unattractive?
5 Can teeth gaps close naturally?
6 How to treat diastema
7 How long does it take to close gaps in teeth with braces?
8 Do teeth gap bands work?

With teeth, it often helps to get to the source of the problem. And for a diastema, there can be many causes. Growth quirks happen regularly. Smaller than average teeth and/or a larger than average jaw can lead to significant spacing between the teeth. Research also shows that both tooth sizes and jaw sizes are hereditary!

For some, the tissue between their teeth and gums can be a little too generous in size. If your orthodontist mentions your labial fraenum, this is the tissue they’re talking about.

Gum disease is a serious non-genetic cause of tooth spacing, because the gaps can signal that the disease has advanced. Inflammation in the gum and bone around the teeth can loosen your teeth can cause gaps. As most serious and chronic gum disease (periodontitis) is relatively painless, it may progress without you knowing about it. This emphasises the need for regular check-ups with your family dentist.

Your teeth are constantly shifting and growing, this is more noticeable in your younger years as your jaw is still growing into maturity, however, many people find that their teeth will continue to shift throughout their life. This may mean that gaps in teeth can get bigger over the years, or in some cases they may get smaller. You’ll need to have a consultation with an orthodontist to understand how your teeth are shifting as you age.

Gaps between teeth can also result from habits. Some people push their tongue towards their teeth when they swallow, as opposed to the roof of their mouth. Orthodontists call this movement a ‘tongue thrust’, which if significant, can gradually push your teeth apart.

Beauty is subjective! And what we find attractive is often just what is trending.

Fashion goes in and out of, well, fashion, but there’s a long history of gapped teeth as a hallmark of beauty. French actress Brigitte Bardot introduced many to a new kind of beautiful smile in the 50s and 60s, and supermodel Lauren Hutton carried the torch beyond that. From Madonna to Lara Stone, Eddy Murphy to Ed Westwick,&nbsp;a&nbsp;diastema has been considered a&nbsp;unique&nbsp;and characterising&nbsp;addition to&nbsp;an individual’s&nbsp;appearance. And it can be for you too.&nbsp;<p></p> <h2><span id="Can_teeth_gaps_close_naturallynbsp"><div><a name="5">Can teeth gaps close naturally?&nbsp;</a></div></span></h2> <p>Sometimes, gapped teeth put aside their differences and come together naturally. There are often gaps in baby teeth,&nbsp;and when adult teeth come in,&nbsp;they can be spaced out too (we all have that photo). When more adult teeth come through, these gaps can close without intervention.&nbsp;This is why we recommend having an orthodontic ‘home’ for your child from an early age, to help your orthodontist monitor their growth and keep you informed about any changes to their smile that are likely to occur naturally.&nbsp;<gwmw style="display:none"><gwmw style="display:none"></gwmw></gwmw></p> <h2><span id="How_to_treat_diastemanbsp"><div><a name="6">How to treat diastema&nbsp;</a></div></span></h2> <p>Depending on the cause, diastema treatment varies.&nbsp;Clear aligners&nbsp;(e.g.&nbsp;Invisalign®)&nbsp;and traditional braces are an excellent path to a permanent fix.&nbsp;Depending upon your individual tooth size and anatomy, this can avoid any need for restorative dental work. Your&nbsp;specialist&nbsp;orthodontist&nbsp;will advise you regarding all of the&nbsp;options for your individual case, along with all the important finer details.&nbsp;Remember, the little things can be very important!</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Diastema.jpg" alt="diastema" class="wp-image-1588" srcset="https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Diastema.jpg 1000w, https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Diastema-300x200.jpg 300w, https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Diastema-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></figure> <h2><span id="How_long_doesnbspitnbsptake_to_close_gaps_in_teeth_with_bracesnbsp"><div><a name="7">How long does&nbsp;it&nbsp;take to close gaps in teeth with braces?&nbsp;</a></div></span></h2> <p>With braces, a lot of factors can come into play. Bone density, the degree of malalignment&nbsp;and your age&nbsp;may&nbsp;all affect your treatment&nbsp;predictability and&nbsp;time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>As for how long it takes for them to work, noticeable changes will generally&nbsp;show after four to six weeks. And if it’s only the gap that needs closing, then it’s not unusual for braces to only need six to eight months to get the job done.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Every individual case is&nbsp;unique&nbsp;and&nbsp;good&nbsp;quality&nbsp;treatment can take anywhere between&nbsp;six to 24 months.&nbsp;Don’t be discouraged, as your specialist&nbsp;orthodontist&nbsp;might surprise you with an expedited solution.&nbsp;</p> <h2><span id="Do_teeth_gap_bands_worknbsp"><div><a name="8">Do teeth gap bands work?&nbsp;</a></div></span></h2> <p>“Gap bands”&nbsp;are a controversial&nbsp;do-it-yourself&nbsp;treatment method&nbsp;that may seem attractive due to the&nbsp;low price.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>The small rubber bands loop around the&nbsp;spaced&nbsp;teeth&nbsp;and are meant to pull them together.&nbsp;Their&nbsp;use isn’t recommended by&nbsp;registered health&nbsp;professionals because these simple rubber bands&nbsp;can be&nbsp;very&nbsp;dangerous. The tight bands&nbsp;can&nbsp;move up under your gums and become lodged,&nbsp;and irreversibly damage your teeth.&nbsp;This can result in loose teeth or teeth that need to be removed.&nbsp;In short,&nbsp;it’s best to leave the treatment to the professionals.&nbsp;</p> <p>Please always&nbsp;consult a&nbsp;specialist&nbsp;orthodontist first before making any decisions.&nbsp;Your teeth and your smile are extremely important, therefore any changes or improvements to them should be done safely and predictably with a true expert.&nbsp;Use our&nbsp;<a href="https://finder.orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finder Tool</a>&nbsp;to find a&nbsp;specialist&nbsp;orthodontist near you.&nbsp; </p><div id="div-gpt-ad-1629796466231-0" style="min-width:300px;min-height:90px"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1629796466231-0'); }); </div><gwmw style="display:none"><gwmw style="display:none"><p></p> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_48 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/diastema-or-gaps-between-teeth-causes-and-solutions/" data-a2a-title="Diastema or Gaps Between Teeth: Causes and Solutions"><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Forthodonticsaustralia.org.au%2Fdiastema-or-gaps-between-teeth-causes-and-solutions%2F&linkname=Diastema%20or%20Gaps%20Between%20Teeth%3A%20Causes%20and%20Solutions" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Forthodonticsaustralia.org.au%2Fdiastema-or-gaps-between-teeth-causes-and-solutions%2F&linkname=Diastema%20or%20Gaps%20Between%20Teeth%3A%20Causes%20and%20Solutions" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Forthodonticsaustralia.org.au%2Fdiastema-or-gaps-between-teeth-causes-and-solutions%2F&linkname=Diastema%20or%20Gaps%20Between%20Teeth%3A%20Causes%20and%20Solutions" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a></div></div> <span id="post-ratings-1562" class="post-ratings" data-nonce="e85cb48917"><div class="title">100.00% of readers found this article helpful.</div> <div class="ratings-imgs"><img id="rating_1562_1" src="https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_on.gif" alt="Unhelpful" title="Unhelpful" onmouseover="current_rating(1562, 1, 'Unhelpful');" onmouseout="ratings_off(5, 0, 0);" onclick="rate_post();" onkeypress="rate_post();" style="cursor:pointer;border:0px"><img id="rating_1562_2" src="https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_on.gif" alt="Mostly unhelpful" title="Mostly unhelpful" onmouseover="current_rating(1562, 2, 'Mostly unhelpful');" onmouseout="ratings_off(5, 0, 0);" onclick="rate_post();" onkeypress="rate_post();" style="cursor:pointer;border:0px"><img id="rating_1562_3" src="https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_on.gif" alt="Possibly helpful" title="Possibly helpful" onmouseover="current_rating(1562, 3, 'Possibly helpful');" onmouseout="ratings_off(5, 0, 0);" onclick="rate_post();" onkeypress="rate_post();" style="cursor:pointer;border:0px"><img id="rating_1562_4" src="https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_on.gif" alt="Mostly helpful" title="Mostly helpful" onmouseover="current_rating(1562, 4, 'Mostly helpful');" onmouseout="ratings_off(5, 0, 0);" onclick="rate_post();" onkeypress="rate_post();" style="cursor:pointer;border:0px"><img id="rating_1562_5" src="https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/stars/rating_on.gif" alt="Very helpful" title="Very helpful" onmouseover="current_rating(1562, 5, 'Very helpful');" onmouseout="ratings_off(5, 0, 0);" onclick="rate_post();" onkeypress="rate_post();" style="cursor:pointer;border:0px"></div> <div class="ratings-description">Click a star to add your vote</div></span><span id="post-ratings-1562-loading" class="post-ratings-loading"><img src="https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/plugins/wp-postratings/images/loading.gif" width="16" height="16" class="post-ratings-image" alt="Loading...">Loading...</span> <script> jQuery('.post-ratings img').click(function(){ var timerId = setInterval(function() { if (! 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Do gaps in teeth get bigger with age?

A small diastema is not a serious concern, but it's especially important to maintain proper oral hygiene to prevent any decay or damage, and always remember, gaps will increase in size as you get older. That is why it is important to close them on time to avoid future issues.

How can I reduce gap between my teeth?

The main methods to close space between the teeth are:.

Braces (orthodontic treatment).

Direct bonding (composite resin).

Composite veneers..

Porcelain veneers..

Why is my teeth spacing out?

Spacing in your teeth may be small, but can still make you feel self-conscious. It can be caused by missing teeth, teeth shifting, thumb-sucking as a child, gum disease, or overgrown frenum (the tissue above the two front teeth). Fortunately, there are several treatments to fix spacing in teeth.

How can I reduce the gap in my teeth naturally?

Apart from clear aligners, you can also opt for traditional metal and ceramic braces, self-ligating braces or lingual braces. However, if you are looking for the most aesthetic and natural way of closing the gaps in your teeth, clear aligners are the best option for you.