5 Reasons Why Your Teeth Are Shifting

These are to blame for less-than-perfect teeth.

By Elise Minton Tabin · Jul 7, 2017

While it doesn’t happen to everyone, the majority of Americans experience some form of shifting of their teeth as an adult that impacts the look of their smile. According to New York cosmetic dentist Emanuel Layliev, DDS, teeth remain a moveable entity throughout life and can be displaced at any point due to force. Here’s what leads to the change.

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Grinding

Grinding forces the lower jaw forward and puts tension on the upper teeth. The continual thrusting affects the position of the upper arch, pushing it out of alignment.

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The position of your tongue

As strange as it may sound, where your tongue sits in your mouth can affect your teeth. Boulder, CO, cosmetic dentist Lori Kemmet, DDS, says the position of the teeth is greatly affected by tongue habits. “The tongue should rest in the palate (roof of the mouth). Habits such as being a mouth breather or unconsciously thrusting your tongue into your teeth makes a huge impact in the position of your teeth over time.”

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A loss of support

“As we age, our jaw bone density diminishes. With less density and general volume of bone, teeth can shift and move forward,” says New York cosmetic dentist Jason Kasarsky, DDS. “Dentists refer to that movement as a mesial shift.”

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Spaces and gaps

Any time there is extra space between two teeth, there is a chance one of them will move into it.

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Genetics

Your genes will determine whether or not your teeth will shift as you age (regardless of the type of orthodontic treatment you may or may not have had).