How To Stop Teeth From Moving

One of the most common reasons patients seek Toothfairy aligners is due to their teeth moving in adulthood, even if they have had braces as children!

Why Does It Occur?

There are multiple reasons behind why your teeth can move. If left over time, teeth movement can result in a crowded and misaligned mouth. This can cause major issues with your bite and make simple things such as eating and chewing very uncomfortable!
Here are a few of the most common ones Tooth Fairy patients present to our dentists with:

• Natural Reasons

As you get older, it is common for your teeth – bottom ones especially, to start to move a little. This often is due to various physiological changes that occur in your mouth e.g. lower jaw shrinkage. This shrinkage may also occur with your lips too. If the lips get tighter, this pulls in your cheeks resulting in more pressure being applied to your teeth. If teeth are exposed to increase pressure, they will move away from the direction of the force, leading to movement commonly seen as crowding of the lower jaw.

• Gum Disease

One of the common manifestations of gum disease is when the teeth start to move. Gum disease (periodontitis) is caused by increased plaque levels and social factors such as smoking. There also is a higher prevalence in patients suffering from certain medical conditions such as diabetes. If left untreated, gum disease ultimately will result in bone loss.  It is your bone that holds the teeth in their correct position so losing bone support means its is easier for teeth to drift and move. Again, this is commonly seen on the lower front teeth.

• Relapse following previous teeth straightening

Your teeth always want to move back into their original position after they have been moved using braces. This movement can occur shortly after or sometimes many years down the line following teeth straightening treatment. Therefore it is very common among adults in their 20-30s who had braces as teenagers. This is why it is very important to have long term retention to keep the teeth in place.

How To Stop Teeth From Moving

In one word – Retention!
As mentioned above, your teeth will always want to move back into their original starting position. Once you finish your course of Tooth Fairy Aligners, sadly the work doesn’t stop there!
The teeth need to be kept under longterm retention. This comes in the form of removable and fixed options. Retainers are to be worn every night for the first 6 months post treatment, then for at least 3-4 nights for the foreseeable future. In terms of looks and feel, they do not differ much from Tooth Fairy Aligners.

Worried about your retainer cracking or becoming dirty over time?

Join our great Retainer Club for as little as £84 per year and get a fresh, clean, new retainer sent out every year! See more:

https://toothfairyapp.co.uk/retainer/

How often shall I wear my braces before I get my retainer?

Wear your current braces for every night and evening, to stop teeth moving before you get your final retainer. If you can wear the braces for the full 22 hours until your final retainer comes – even better!

How long do I wear my night time retainer?

For the first 6 months every night. After this we recommend at least 4 nights a week, but if you can do the full week at night, good work!

Can I get a new retainer every year?

Yes thats retainer club! A new fresh retainer that is moulded against the last measurement of your perfect smile.

Can I do Composite Bonding after?

We recommend you do composite bonding before we issue your final retainer, otherwise it will no longer fit if done so after! Hence a new measurement and new cost. We sometimes offer discounted packages for our Toothfairy patients with composite bonding, so feel free to ask our dentists.