Gaps Between Teeth | How Do I Treat Them?

Tooth gaps: To close or not to close the gap in your smile

While a gap between your teeth is often just a unique feature of your smile, it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying dental problem. Whether you’ve had a gap your whole life or have recently noticed your teeth shifting, here’s what you need to know about keeping your tooth gap healthy or closing it for good.

What causes gaps between the teeth?

Gaps between the two front teeth are often caused by genetics while spacing between other teeth can be caused by a wider range of factors.

Genetics

Genetics is a common cause of a tooth gap – especially between the two front teeth. Tooth gaps are often the result of having more space than necessary to fit all your teeth into your jaw. 

Missing teeth

Our teeth act like support posts for one another. If one tooth was to fall out, our neighbouring teeth suddenly have a lot more space to move around. This drifting can result in new gaps in other parts of the mouth as the remaining teeth move out of alignment.

 Not wearing your retainer

Uh-oh. Hands up if you stopped wearing your retainer after getting your braces off? Our teeth have a natural tendency to shift back towards their original position without braces to hold them in place. A retainer is one of the best ways to prevent this shift from happening. 

Gum disease

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss amongst adults. Advanced cases of the disease can cause your teeth to loosen and eventually to fall out, leading to gaps between your pearly whites.

Bite issues

Over bites, under bites and cross bites can all cause problems with the spacing of your teeth. 

Thumb-sucking

Thumb sucking as a child often has consequences later in life. The suction from sucking your thumb along with pressure on the roof of the mouth can change the alignment of your teeth and lead to unwanted gaps.

What’s the problem with having a tooth gap?

 For the most part, the ‘problem’ with tooth gaps is cosmetic, but some gaps can cause issues that go beyond the way they look.

Difficulty maintaining oral hygiene:

With more space between your teeth, there’s more room for food particles and plaque deposits to collect. This can lead to an increase in tooth decay, bad breath, cavities and gum disease. 

Speech problems:

The position of your teeth can impact your ability to pronounce certain words correctly. Some tooth gaps can cause lisps and other speech problems.

Self-confidence:

A tooth-gap can make some people feel self-conscious about their smile, impacting their self-esteem and confidence.

What is the treatment for a tooth gap?

The best treatment method for you will depend on whether your gap is a result of genetics, a shifting alignment, or from one or more missing teeth.

Dental implant / tooth bridge

If you are missing a tooth, a dental implant or tooth bridge can help support your existing teeth. This will prevent the teeth next to your gap from any further movement. 

Braces

Braces are a great way to fix alignment issues and close any gaps between your teeth. 

Veneers

If your tooth gap is a cosmetic issue a dentist can close the gap by applying veneers to the front of your teeth. This is commonly used to fix gaps between the upper front teeth. Veneers won’t change the position of your teeth.

Dental bonding

Dental bonding uses tooth-coloured composite applied directly to the tooth gap to minimise the gap. This material is often used to reshape chipped or broken teeth. It’s a fast, affordable option but more suitable for small corrections.

Can clear aligners fix the gaps between teeth?

Yes. Clear aligners are affective for closing cosmetic gaps. They’re also a great option for adults who don’t like the look of traditional braces and want a more inconspicuous option.

When to see a dentist for a tooth gap

If you’ve always had a tooth gap you can keep an eye on it with annual dental visits. If you’ve noticed any movement between teeth, new gaps, or the widening of a tooth gap, we recommend booking a checkup with a dentist. 

At Gentle Dental, we have a wide range of options for treating tooth gaps including implants, veneers, and braces. You can book an appointment at any one of our four Wellington locations now.