Why Do Teeth Shift With Age? (And What Can I Do About It?)

If you’ve suspected that a tooth or two (or many) aren’t in the same positions they used to be, you’re probably right. As we get older, our bodies change, and these adjustments include shifting teeth.

Teeth shifting can also happen for other reasons, such as changes in jaw structure, dental health issues, and hormone fluctuations. Even if your teeth haven’t moved much, paying attention to these shifts is essential.

Left untreated, they can lead to issues like bite alignment problems and gum disease. What’s more, the reason for the shift needs to be addressed, and your doctor or dentist can’t treat the issue if they don’t know all the symptoms.

But if you think your teeth are moving because of the natural aging cycle, you don’t have to sit back and let it happen.

In this blog, we’ll explain why it’s common to see teeth shifting with age and how to stop the movement from worsening.

Why Teeth Shift With Age

You’ve heard of bodily changes that happen with age, like menopause, weight gain, and “shrinking” heights. These common side effects of getting older are due to various factors, from genetics to vitamin deficiencies. The same things that cause you to get “shorter” or gain weight can also lead to shifting teeth.

Let’s look at the main culprits in more detail.

Changes In Hormones

From a young age, hormones wreak havoc on our physical and mental states. Over time and into adulthood, they begin to settle down, only to go wild again during pregnancies and menopause.

These changing hormones affect jawbone density. Fluctuating levels of estrogen can lead to dry mouth and gum disease, both of which, left untreated, cause bone loss. 

A healthy jawbone supports the adult teeth, keeping them firmly in place to the degree that only trauma or orthodontic treatment can move them. But when the jawbone begins to deteriorate — as happens with hormone shifts — the teeth loosen.

Non-Hormonal Jawbone Density Loss

Jawbone density loss can also happen if you’ve had any teeth removed and didn’t replace them with implants. Your remaining teeth naturally shift to fill in the gap, a phenomenon called tooth migration. The new positions aren’t always optimal, though, and in many cases, they cause bite misalignments, which come with side effects like teeth grinding (bruxism).

Periodontal disease also damages the bone. With this chronic gum disease, bacteria eat away at the ligaments and alveolar bones that hold the teeth to the jawbone.

Bone density loss with age, also called jaw atrophy, increases if you’ve had trauma to the area or use tobacco.

Medical Issues

Shifting and crowding teeth come from jawbone density loss, but can also happen due to medical issues. If you breathe through your mouth or thrust your tongue frequently (as often happens with medical issues like obstructive sleep apnea), your teeth can begin to shift. 

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching, a condition called bruxism, is another frequent cause of shifting teeth. The severe pressure of grinding and clenching erodes the enamel and damages the soft tissue in your mouth. Long-term bruxing frequently leads to cracked or chipped teeth, gum disease, and loose teeth that are prone to movement.

Shifting can also follow a tooth extraction, read more here!

Genetics

A person’s smile shape, number, and size, as well as their oral health problems, are often hereditary. So, if your genetics include shifting teeth along with those passed down hair and eye color attributes, you’re more likely to deal with this concern as you age. 

Warning signs include:

• A gap between the front teeth (a diastema)

• Misaligned teeth

• Overbite

• Crowding

These let you know early on that you may need to give your smile extra care. 

Let your orthodontist know that these dental concerns run in your family. Treatments like braces or Invisalign can prevent teeth shifting, even when you’re older!

Why You Can’t Ignore Shifting Teeth

What’s the big deal about shifting teeth, anyway?

Well, these migrating choppers can be annoying or, depending on the cause, become a serious issue.

At the surface level, shifting teeth that cause an overbite or crooked smile can impact your self-esteem. If you catch yourself covering your mouth to hide your grin, talk to your dentist before you begin the typical downward slide into social withdrawal and isolation that often comes with this lack of confidence.

Even if your shifted smile isn’t severe enough to cause you to feel insecure about it, it may have created a misaligned bite. This minor adjustment in your chewing can lead to:

• Tooth sensitivity

• Gum disease

• Chipped or cracked teeth

Misalignments mean the jaw muscles must work extra hard to correct the position of your teeth when you bite and chew. Overworked jaw muscles commonly cause bruxism, jaw pain, and temporomandibular joint disorders.

Without help, these changes can lead to moderate to severe side effects, such as trouble speaking, an increased risk of oral health issues like cavities and loose teeth, and faster wear and tear on the enamel. However, dentistry offers various fixes to prevent shifting teeth from having these extreme consequences. 

Can You Stop Shifting Teeth?

Like all dental issues, the sooner you catch and treat moving teeth, the easier it is to fix them. For shifting teeth, this may require a combination of orthodontic care, dentistry treatment, and lifestyle changes.

Orthodontic Treatment

Moderate to severe shifts require more intensive care to fix the alignment and prevent more serious consequences. The usual course of treatment involves traditional braces.

Depending on the severity of the misalignment, you may need to wear your braces for anywhere from six months to a few years. After they’re removed, a retainer is used to ensure the teeth don’t shift back into their old positions.

If you’re concerned about the appearance of braces, talk to your doctor about Invisalign. Although it was once considered cosmetic, many insurance companies today offer the same coverage for Invisalign as traditional braces. These clear aligners work in a similar fashion but are more discreet. When they’re removed, you’ll need to wear a retainer to keep the alignment in its position.

Dental Treatment

Shifting teeth caused by tooth or gum issues must be addressed by your dentist. Once your dental provider identifies the “root” of the problem, they’ll suggest the proper course of care.

This may involve any of the following:

• Dental restorations - Like fillings for cavities, crowns for deep pockets, or implants to fill in the gap where teeth are missing

• Periodontal treatment - For mild to moderate gum disease, such as a deep cleaning using scaling and planing instruments

• Referral to a periodontist - For advanced gum disease, where options like bone grafting or gum surgery may be necessary

When the dental issues are corrected, the alignment problems and other side effects that show up are easier to handle.

Sometimes, they resolve themselves. In other cases, a few lifestyle changes and some at-home care can do the trick.

Lifestyle and Habit Changes

For mild shifting or after orthodontic or dental treatment is completed, tweaks in your routine at home can prevent further shifting and damage:

Good Dental Hygiene

If you want to avoid moderate shifting or keep your corrected teeth in place, upgrade your dental hygiene routine. Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily.

Dietary Changes

Adjust your diet to avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods that cause your jaw muscles to work hard and put extra strain on your enamel. Work on breaking unhealthy oral habits like chewing gum or using tobacco.

Using a Night Guard

Wearing a custom-made night guard is a helpful way to keep your teeth from grinding at night. Even with your newly corrected smile, sleep bruxism is a potential danger. This condition may have stemmed from your misaligned teeth, but it’s most commonly caused by stress and anxiety. 

To prevent your teeth from shifting further and to stop damaging your teeth and gums, check out the custom-fit night guards offered by professionals like ours at JS Dental Lab. These helpful oral appliances are comfortable to wear and can reduce symptoms like jaw pain, headaches, and TMJ inflammation. 

How to Know If Your Teeth Really Are Shifting

If you suspect your teeth may be moving — but the visible signs aren’t obvious yet — you’re on the right track! The sooner you catch the issue, the easier the solution becomes and the less damage you’ll be dealing with.

What’s leading you to think your teeth are shifting? Here are some typical symptoms that give you early warnings:

• You’re having gum or dental issues, even though you take care of your teeth regularly.

• You’ve recently (within a year or so) had your braces removed, but you didn’t wear the retainer every day.

• Your lifestyle habits include notorious teeth shifters like tobacco use, stimulants (a daily caffeine habit counts!), or hard object chewing addictions.

• You’ve had trauma to your jaw or facial area.

• You’re in a hormonal flux, such as puberty, menopause, or pregnancy.

• You think you may be bruxing, or you’ve been diagnosed with the condition.

Do any of these risk factors apply to you?

If so, there’s a good chance that your suspicions are correct. At this early stage, many professionals prescribe a night guard as the first treatment option.

You can save hundreds of dollars and skip the dentist’s office (unless you need dental treatment) with our professional, high-quality night guards at JS Dental Lab.

When Your Teeth Hurt: How to Manage the Pain of Shifting Teeth

While you’re trying to solve the cause of your shifting teeth, they may still hurt. Your nerves and roots are being pulled, your jaw muscles are working extra hard, and your teeth are crowded. These can easily keep you from enjoying your daily activities. 

Managing the pain of shifting teeth is an important step in your care plan. Over-the-counter pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and cold packs applied to the affected area help numb the nerves.

Changing your diet to soft foods only (and avoiding hot or cold temperature meals) minimizes the impact of chewing, which helps you avoid triggering pain sensations.

Also, consider wearing a night guard when you’re sleeping to give your jaw muscles a much-needed few hours of rest and prevent your teeth from grinding against each other. With consistent wear, you’ll likely have a noticeable reduction in your pain symptoms.

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Conclusion

Shifting teeth with age happens to most of us. Whether yours is from a missing tooth, poor oral hygiene habits, or something else, it’s not something to ignore.

Even mild tooth movement can eventually lead to health issues, jawbone atrophy, and tooth loss. Regular check-ups with the dentist minimize your risk of severe consequences.

But while you’re working on figuring out what’s causing your teeth to shift, visit JS Dental Lab to find out how our custom-made night guards may be exactly what the doctor ordered to help you halt your errant incisors.