There are things that can led to spaces and gaps in your teeth or the teeth of your child. By learning about some of the things that can lead to spaces and gaps in teeth, you will have a better chance of preventing these problems in yourself or your child. If you do end up with spaces in your teeth, or your child does, then you will want to see an orthodontist who can help to correct the issue. Of course, prevention would be best. Here are some things that can cause spaces and gaps:
Thumb sucking – While most babies suck their thumbs, there are some who carry on the habit for far too long, sucking their thumb as toddlers and older. Children who suck their thumbs constantly as their teeth are coming in can cause their top front teeth to be pushed slightly out, giving them what is commonly referred to as 'buck teeth'. When this happens to a serious degree, it not only causes issues with those front teeth, but it can also create an excessive amount of space between the other teeth. Extended use of pacifiers can also lead to these same issues.
A missing tooth – If you have a missing tooth that you haven't had replaced with an implant, partial dentures, or a bridge, then you are at risk of developing spaces in that whole row of teeth. The empty space from the missing tooth will allow your teeth to shift and move in a way that creates those spaces. This is why it's important to have a missing tooth replaced, even if it is a back tooth that you may feel tempted to ignore.
Genetics – Sometimes, it's just plain old genetics that can lead to you having spaces in your teeth. If this is the case, then you can rest assured that there was nothing you could have done to prevent the issue.
Wisdom teeth that don't come in – Some people have wisdom teeth that never come in. When wisdom teeth come in, they help to push the rest of a person's teeth closer together. This means when someone's wisdom teeth never come in that the teeth don't get pushed together and this can leave those spaces between the teeth.
Conclusion – If you have spaces and gaps in your teeth, then you can get help that may come in the form of braces or Invisalign.
