What causes gaps between teeth?

Gaps between your teeth can result from a range of contributing factors. Here are some of the common causes of diastema:

Size of teeth and jaws: Gaps between teeth may form when a person’s teeth are too small for their jaw bone, resulting in teeth that are spaced too far apart. The size of your teeth and jaw bone is often determined by genetics, so diastema can be hereditary and run in families.

Overgrowth of gum tissue: An overgrowth of the tissue that borders your gum line and your two upper front teeth can result in gaps between these two teeth. The overgrowth causes a separation between the teeth, resulting in a gap.

Childhood habits: Bad habits in childhood, such as thumb-sucking, can lead to gaps between teeth. When children suck their thumb, this puts pressure on the two front teeth, causing them to pull forward.

Incorrect swallowing reflexes: In older children and adults, diastema can result from incorrect swallowing reflexes causing the tongue to push against the front teeth rather than the roof of the mouth. The pressure this places on the teeth can cause a gap to develop.

What Can I Do?

1. Veneers

Bonding fills small gaps here and there, veneers are either porcelain or composite and are placed on the front of the tooth.

2. Orthodontics

Wired braces are a common way to correct gaps between teeth. They work by putting pressure on the teeth in order to slowly move them together and close the gaps. Invisible aligners  can also fix gaps between teeth.