Why Do Teeth Move?

Just as your skin ages over time, your teeth will naturally shift as well. You might find yourself frustrated and confused that your once perfect teeth are slowly becoming misaligned. Rest assure that it is normal for your teeth to move even after your braces come off. Therefore, it is important to follow your orthodontist’s instructions consistently to maintain that beautiful smile.

During your orthodontic treatment, the wires on your braces hold your teeth tightly in place in order to properly set each tooth in the desired location. Once the braces are removed, the lack of these bindings provide no control for these gradual shifts. Your tongue, age, and genetics are some of the many factors that can also contribute to this movement.

Can Movement Be Prevented?

Our goal as your local orthodontist is to ensure that the movement of your teeth do not extend too far out or too far back to disrupt your bite. A misalignment can lead to serious oral complications such as tooth decay, discomfort, and difficulty in chewing or speaking. Although there is no way to completely immobilize the movement of your teeth, wearing your retainers faithfully can minimize these shifts.

After the first month or two after the braces are removed, it is important to regularly wear your retainers as prescribed by Dr. Herman. If you forget to wear your retainers for an extended period of time and your teeth move dramatically, you may need to repeat your treatment by wearing braces. We recommend that you closely monitor your teeth’s movement especially if you are seeing notice some progressive changes after consistent retainer wear. Please contact our orthodontic office in Tulsa, OK to have you retainer adjusted or replaced if this occurs. The sooner you notice the problem, the more likely it will be that issue can be resolved by changing your retainer.