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Do you find yourself often covering your mouth as you laugh? Are you conscious of yourself as you talk? Do you think people pay more attention to the gap between your teeth rather than what you’re saying? It’s ok, you’re not alone. It’s quite common to have gaps between your teeth. These gaps aren’t medically harmful, but, they can affect your confidence and self-worth. The good news is that this doesn’t have to be permanent – it’s fixable and we’re going to tell you how to reduce gap between teeth naturally at home.
A gap between two teeth is termed as a diastema. It’s most common between the upper two front teeth. In such cases, it is called a midline diastema. There’s no single answer to what causes gap between teeth.
Sometimes, it’s the result of a mismatch between the size of your jaw bone and the tooth size. Undersized teeth can create gaps. Sometimes, the teeth will try to move closer but in doing so, they close one gap and open another. It could also be caused by a piece of gum tissue that grows too large and blocks space between two teeth.
A gap between teeth can also be a genetic trait inherited from either parent.
Sometimes, you need to take a look at your lifestyle before thinking about how to reduce gap between teeth naturally at home. Poor oral hygiene can cause gum disease that makes the gums weaken and recede. This can make the teeth loose and create gaps between them. Childhood habits like thumb sucking could also create gaps.
So, the first step to teeth gap filling at home is to keep the condition from occurring. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a herbal tooth powder can keep your teeth and gums healthy. You can start brushing a child’s tooth from the moment they get their first tooth.
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Like the rest of your body, your teeth are constantly growing and developing. Gaps between teeth at a young age may close on their own as a child grows older and the teeth fit the size of his/ her jaw. Until a child gets a full set of permanent teeth, you shouldn’t worry about the placement too much unless of course, there’s a tooth missing or one that erupts unnaturally.
At other times, the unfortunate answer to does gap between teeth increase could be ‘yes’. This is usually the case when a gap is caused by a habit called ‘tongue thrusting’. Most people push their tongues against the palate when swallowing. But, some people may push their tongue against their front teeth. It seems harmless but this pushes the teeth outwards and increases the gap between them. This habit is often noticed amongst people with tongue piercings.
A gap between your teeth is not harmful but there are times, it can be irritating. Food tends to get stuck in these gaps. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, this can cause a build-up of bacteria and plaque that could lead to cavities and aggravate gum disease.
In terms of appearances, some people find a gap between their teeth adds character to their smile while others are uncomfortable about it. Did you know that Madonna has a gap between her teeth?
People have been looking for a way to reduce the gap between teeth for many years. They’ve been considered unsightly since the times of Chaucer. On the other hand, today, some people consider a gap between front teeth to be a sign of good luck. It comes down to what you want and what makes you comfortable. So, can we reduce the gap between teeth – yes we can.
If you want to find how to close a gap in your teeth at home, the first thing you should know is that trying to reposition your teeth on your own could worsen the problem rather than fix it. If you want to reduce the gap between your teeth, you have to consult an orthodontist.
The dentist will examine your teeth to determine what’s causing the gap and how bad it is before giving you a way to fix it. The traditional way to close a gap between teeth is with braces. The pace of treatment depends on many factors including the degree of misalignment, bone density and your age. Braces slowly pull the teeth closer to each other over a period of 6 to 24 months. You’ll be able to see the gap closing after the first 6 weeks or so. Today, you could also get invisible braces that look better than the traditional wire braces.
Once the braces are removed, you may need to wear retainers for a while and at night. The advantage of this form of treatment is that it is non-invasive. On the flip side, it’s slow and expensive.
The trouble with braces is that the process is slow and it can lean towards the painful side. It doesn’t hurt while the teeth come closer together but the brackets can rub against your gums and the inside of your lips to cause blisters.
So, what are the alternatives?
One option is to look into resin bonding. Bonding involves putting a material that matches the colour of your teeth in the gap. The resin is glued to the teeth and the gap between your teeth disappears after a single appointment. The resin material used today is strong and quite durable but has a limited lifespan. Even with excellent oral hygiene habits, you may need to get it redone every few years.
If you’ve got a small gap, this can be the ideal solution. If the gap is large, the results may not be as good as you hoped. However, you should note that this is considered the cheapest way to close gap in teeth.
A veneer is basically a thin laminate made of tooth-colored material that covers the front of the tooth. By choosing a veneer that is slightly wider than the tooth, the gap can be hidden. Veneers are usually a permanent solution and do not need to be redone. It can be used to correct a gap between two teeth or multiple gaps between your teeth.
There are 2 types of veneers – composite veneers and porcelain veneers. The former is suited to small gaps while the latter is better for wider gaps. Porcelain veneers are stronger than composite veneers and allow more shaping but they are more expensive and require more work in terms of preparing the tooth for the veneer.
If you want to get veneers put, the dentist will first reshape the tooth surface. If needed, some of the enamel may need to be trimmed. A mould will then be taken of your jaw and sent to the laboratory. It takes 2-4 weeks for veneers to be custom-made to fit your mould.
At the next sitting, the dentist will etch the tooth to strengthen the bond and attach the veneers. You may be called in for a check-up after a few weeks to confirm that all is well.
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If you get past the first few pages of search results for how to fix gap in front teeth without braces, you’ll find a few unconventional forms of treatment.
‘Gap bands’ area controversial DIY answer to teeth gap filling at home. It seems to be a cheap solution so you may be tempted to try it out. It claims to work on the same principle as braces. Small rubber bands are looped around the spaced teeth and over time, they’re expected to pull the teeth closer. This treatment is not recommended by any trained dental physician. Rather than close the gap, the bands can loosen teeth. They may also become lodged in the gums and cause irreversible damage. The amount of time and money you would have to spend to fix these problems would be much higher than what it would have cost to get the gap between your teeth fixed properly in the first go. Hence, don’t try this at home.
A gap between teeth is largely a cosmetic concern. You can choose to get it treated or let it be a part of your ‘look’. What’s more important is to maintain good oral hygiene. Using a herbal tooth powder can keep your teeth from getting discoloured and protect them from cavities and gum disease while also ensuring fresh breath. The ByGrandma Herbal Tooth Powder is safe for children and adults of all ages and is easy to use.
As long as your teeth are clean and healthy, you and your smile will always be beautiful!