Teeth Movement with Braces | ALL THE NEW FACTS | 2020

Dr. Adam Schulhof with a female patient.

Teeth movement with braces. There are several problems that would necessitate a visit to an orthodontist. One of them is movement. Slight movements do not usually call for an emergency. However, if you can feel the movements in your adult teeth, then you need to take the matter seriously. In this post, we’ll show you all about teeth movement with braces. Let’s get moving!

Periodontal Diseases

Oral diseases can loosen the ligaments that hold the teeth in position. As a result, the teeth will be shaky, even with slight teeth movement. Such diseases come with more symptoms than just loose teeth. These include:

Bad breath
Receding gums
Bleeding and reddened gums
Swollen gums
Unpleasant taste in the mouth

If you have some of these symptoms, in addition to your loose teeth, then you should see your orthodontist. Certain factors increase your risk of developing oral diseases. These can help you determine the chances that you are actually suffering from these conditions. The disease is most common in people over 65, persons who experience too much stress regularly, and those who use tobacco.

Some individuals also report looser teeth in the morning. Over the course of the day, the teeth self-correct into a more rigid form. Over time, this can lead to the development of dental diseases since you will be wearing out the ligaments slowly. The problem is usually rooted in the clenching of teeth while you sleep.

Poorly aligned teeth are loosened more frequently because of periodontal diseases. This is because they are harder to clean. Getting between misaligned teeth will prove to be a problem and you will end up with poor dental care. This problem can be corrected using braces and other similar appliances.

Teeth Movement

Braces are meant to reposition teeth in the jaw. This process is supposed to occur over months. It is normal to have shaky teeth while they get pushed into position. In the early days, some teeth may actually get pushed to a worse position. This shouldn’t be a cause of panic. The teeth are simply moved gradually without causing any serious conditions.

They will be shaky for a few months following treatment but will become stable after some time. In the final months of orthodontic treatment, the teeth should not move. If this occurs, you need to see your orthodontist quickly. In fact, all changes occurring to your teeth in the final month should be reported to your orthodontist.

Another expected change during treatment is the spacing out or overlapping of teeth. Of course, this shows that the teeth are moving. It may appear that the treatment is worsening your condition, but that is not the case. The treatment is simply moving them into a correct form. You have to be patient for the braces to fix your dental formula.

Can Orthodontic Treatment Make Your Teeth Loose?

Braces and other similar appliances will definitely loosen your teeth. However, this cannot result in the teeth falling out. In the first two days of treatment, the teeth will be very loose, and this will make you feel like they are about to fall off. Your orthodontist will likely clear this up before you leave the practice since many patients get very worried about the excessive loosening of teeth.

The roots of teeth do not get affected in most of the patients. In a very small percentage of orthodontic patients, the roots will get shortened and may change in shape. However, this occurs very rarely. Usually, root shortening is caused by prolonged orthodontic treatment. If you wear your braces for over 3 years, you risk changing the length and shape of your roots. Also, some people are genetically predisposed to develop shorter roots, and this process is quickened by the use of braces.

Protection

This will not usually lead to the loosening of teeth. According to scientists, the root length can be halved without causing any changes in the stability of teeth. Root shortening will, therefore, not result in any long term consequences.

To protect your teeth when you are on orthodontic treatment, you need to watch what you eat. Generally, you should go for foods that have a softer texture. Here are some common foods you can eat when getting your teeth properly aligned:

Vegetables
Fruits
Dairy products
Soft meat
Grains
Bread
Eggs

If the foods require you to bite with the front teeth, you should cut them up into smaller pieces. Also, you should steam your vegetables to make them softer. You should avoid hard foods and anything that gets very sticky.

If you experience any problems with your orthodontic treatment, talk to Schulhof expert for guidance. Your concerns will be addressed conclusively.

What’s the Bottom Line?

If you already have loose teeth, then you need to visit the orthodontist immediately. If the problem is rooted in your braces, then there is no need to panic. You only need to follow the advice of Schulhof expert on what to eat and what to avoid.

To prevent loosening of teeth, make sure to observe proper dental hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth regularly to get rid of plaque. This will help to prevent periodontal diseases that end up eating your tooth ligaments.

As mentioned before, crooked teeth are harder to clean. You should get orthodontic treatment in order to avoid developing periodontal diseases.

People who smoke tobacco are also at a higher risk of developing periodontal diseases. If you are a smoker, consider quitting. Teeth also get loose because of chewing on hard items or even gritting them. You should stop applying unnecessary pressure to the teeth if you want to keep them for a long.

Conclusion

Tooth movement occurs for several reasons. The most common cause of loose teeth is periodontal disease. Orthodontic treatment also results in the loosening of teeth. In the first few days of wearing the braces, the teeth will actually be very shaky. This is because the treatment forces them into the correct position. If you have teeth movement because of reasons other than braces, you need to see an orthodontist for treatment because that could be an emergency situation. Dr. Shulhof is an expert in all things. Contact him today.