Just like any other part of your body, your teeth will change throughout your life. Teeth will gradually wear down as we chew our way through a lifetime of meals. But did you know that teeth can also continue to move well into adulthood?
There’s a common misconception that after your teenage years, your teeth will stay put. After all, that’s usually when people get orthodontic treatment. But the truth is, our teeth never stop moving. Depending on how severe the movements are, they can seriously affect your oral health and your smile. That’s why the experts at the American Association of Orthodontists are here to discuss how teeth change as we age, and when you should see a doctor to do something about it.
How Teeth Change as We Get Older
There are five common ways your teeth can change as you age, and many people will experience these changes to some degree. These include:
- Teeth looking longer or shorter, or changing shape
- Teeth crowding
- Teeth gapping
- Bite deepening or misalignment
- Post-orthodontic treatment shifting
All these changes can cause serious health issues if the problem is severe enough, making it essential to keep an eye out for symptoms. If you’re not sure how severe your tooth problems are, make an appointment with an AAO orthodontist.
1. Teeth Looking Longer or Changing Shape
Lengthening teeth is a common issue reported by many people as they get older. However, this one is a bit of a misnomer. While it is true that your teeth will “look” longer as you age, the truth is that your permanent teeth do not grow after coming in. Instead, the gums around the teeth may recede over time, revealing more of the tooth and giving the appearance that your teeth are longer than they were before. Gum recession may be a perfectly normal part of aging, and in most cases, there is nothing to worry about. However, poor dental care, overbrushing, smoking, and genetics can all contribute to the severity of gum recession.
The opposite problem—teeth appearing shorter as you get older may be caused by normal wear and tear as you use your teeth over a lifetime. Essentially, your enamel (the material your teeth are made of) breaks down, causing your teeth to appear smaller. Teeth grinding, poor brushing habits, smoking, or a diet filled with acidic foods and beverages can also contribute to this by wearing away enamel faster.
2. Teeth Crowding
As we get older, our teeth naturally shift, which can lead to crowding in the lower front teeth or gaps in the upper teeth. Bite problems can also worsen over time, as they don’t resolve themselves. If you are having trouble biting or swallowing, are experiencing tooth or jaw pain, or notice teeth protruding, it’s time to see an orthodontist.
3. Tooth Gaps
Space between the two front teeth can develop for a variety of reasons. Swallowing, with the pressure of your tongue pushing against your front teeth, rather than positioning itself at the roof of your mouth, can also cause teeth to separate over time. Gum disease is another trigger for spacing because of the inflammation.
You may also experience tooth gaps if you lose your permanent teeth, if permanent teeth never come in because they are stuck below the gum line (impacted), or because you never developed permanent teeth to replace the baby teeth (hypodontia). Although rare, these conditions can cause issues with the way your tooth and mouth structure develops over time. Both impacted teeth and missing teeth require intensive orthodontic care to resolve.
Gapped teeth can change your smile; therefore, it’s highly recommended to see an orthodontic specialist to resolve tooth gaps, whether it’s to shift and shape teeth into their proper positions or to use orthodontic appliances to reshape your bite as a whole.
4. Worsening Bite Problems
A bite disorder, called malocclusion, and as mentioned earlier, it won’t go away on its own. If you had a subtle issue with jaw alignment as a kid, but are now experiencing major problems, it’s likely the issue has been worsening over the years, and you may not have noticed the change until serious symptoms appeared.
One of the most common ways malocclusions manifest later in life is as a deep bite, sometimes referred to as an overbite. This occurs when your top teeth bite significantly over your bottom teeth when your mouth is closed. Occasionally, a deep bite can be so bad that some of the top teeth protrude outside of the mouth. This kind of bite problem responds well to traditional orthodontic treatments.
In fact, the number of adults receiving orthodontic treatment is at an all-time high, with an estimated 1.61 million adults undergoing treatment in the U.S. in 2018. That’s one in four adults! So, if you notice your smile is starting to look different because you’ve developed an overbite, consider scheduling an appointment with an orthodontist to restore your dazzling smile.
5. Teeth Shifting After Treatment
These are the patients who don’t commit to wearing their retainers. At the very beginning of this post, we mentioned how our teeth continue to move throughout our entire lives. The same is just as true after treatment as it is before. Your teeth naturally move back to their original positions after treatment, but you can prevent this from happening. That’s why we stress how extremely important it is for our patients to keep wearing their retainers. Ideally, patients will wear them for the rest of their lives, and their teeth won’t move at all.
However, if it’s been a while and your teeth haven’t moved too much, you may need to get fitted for a new retainer. In cases where teeth have moved a lot after not wearing retainers, you may need another round of orthodontic treatment.
4 Ways to Keep Your Smile Stable
While some shifting is natural as you age, there are a few ways you can minimize the changes:
- Keep Wearing Your Retainer: A properly fitted retainer worn overnight locks teeth in place and prevents the slow drift that naturally occurs with age.
- Protect Against Grinding: If you clench or grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist about a custom night guard. Cushioning the bite reduces enamel wear, gum recession, and shifting caused by excess pressure.
- Schedule Regular Gum Health Checks: Regular periodontal exams and cleanings catch early recession and inflammation, keeping the bone and ligaments that hold your teeth firm and healthy.
- Replace Missing Teeth Promptly: Implants, bridges, or partials fill the space left by a lost tooth so neighboring teeth do not tip or rotate into the gap, preserving your bite and smile line.
When to See an Orthodontist
Even if you brush and floss faithfully, certain changes signal it’s time to bring in a specialist. Make an appointment with an AAO orthodontist if you notice any of the following:
- Crowding you can feel or see: When floss starts shredding or you catch food between teeth that used to feel smooth, new crowding is likely underway.
- Gaps that weren’t there before: A space forming between front teeth (called a diastema) or elsewhere can indicate drifting or gum issues that need attention.
- Retainers no longer fit: If your clear tray or wire retainer feels tight or won’t seat fully, it’s likely because your teeth have already shifted.
- Teeth that look noticeably longer or shorter: Rapid gum recession or enamel wear suggests underlying problems such as grinding or periodontal disease.
- Difficulty biting or chewing: Struggling to bite into foods cleanly, or feeling a sudden “off” contact between upper and lower teeth, is a red flag for bite misalignment.
Schedule an Appointment with an AAO Orthodontist
Whether your bite problems are small or large, or whether you are eight or eighty, it’s never a bad idea to see an orthodontist if you start noticing your smile begins to change too much as you age.
The American Association of Orthodontists boasts a network of thousands of orthodontists across the United States and Canada who have the experience, knowledge, and special expertise to restore your smile. Use our Find an Orthodontist tool to locate professional orthodontic services near you, then book an appointment.
Achieve a healthy, beautiful smile at any age with AAO!
