Why Teeth Get More Crooked With Age

Many adults notice their lower front teeth slowly overlapping, or a small gap opening up, years after their teeth were fine. Some never had braces at all. This gradual change, often called late crowding, is a normal part of how teeth and jaws age.

Teeth sit in bone that constantly remodels. Throughout life, they tend to drift slightly forward and toward each other. Tiny movements add up over decades, and the lower front teeth, which are narrow and closely packed, usually show it first.

• Natural forward drift of the teeth over time
• Changes in jaw growth and shape that continue slowly into adulthood
• Pressure from the lips, cheeks and tongue
• Tooth wear, which slightly changes how teeth fit together
• Loss of bone support from gum disease, which lets teeth fan out or shift
• Missing teeth, which allow neighbors to tip into the space

Wisdom teeth are often blamed, but research hasn't shown them to be the main cause of late crowding. It occurs in people who've had their wisdom teeth removed, too.

Beyond appearance, crowded teeth are harder to clean, which raises the risk of cavities and gum problems in those tight spots. Shifting can also change how teeth meet, adding wear to some of them.

• If you had braces, wear your retainer at night — it's the most effective way to stop drift.
• Keep your gums healthy with daily flossing and regular cleanings.
• Replace missing teeth so neighbors don't tip into the gap.
• Act early: a small amount of crowding is much easier to correct than years of accumulated shifting.

Mild late crowding is often a straightforward case for clear aligners, followed by a retainer to hold the result. An Infinity Aligner certified provider in Oklahoma can show you how much your teeth have moved and what it would take to straighten them.