Why should you close your gaps?

Gap teeth, or teeth spacing, refers to large spaces in-between your teeth. Normally, you’re not supposed to have any gaps between your teeth and they are supposed to sit tightly against one another. Gap teeth usually result from a discrepancy between your teeth size and jaw size. Essentially, either your jaw is too large or your teeth are too small. There are other causes of gap teeth beside a discrepancy between teeth and jaw size. For instance, losing an adult tooth or being born without a tooth can cause your remaining teeth to shift and result in gap teeth condition.

Closing gap teeth has several cosmetic and medical benefits. Most people close their gap teeth because they feel like having no gaps in their mouth makes their smile more beautiful. It’s also more difficult to clean your teeth when there are gaps in between them. This may lead to bone loss, bad breath, or even gum disease. As a result, closing gap teeth enhances your smile, increases your confidence, and improves your overall oral health.

SMALL GAPS

Close using at-home clear aligners

Minor gap teeth, such as this one, can easily be fixed by wearing clear aligners at home.

When your gaps are really, really small, they are very easy to close. You can fix small gap teeth using at-home clear aligners programs like Smile Direct Club™ or Even28 at-home™. As long as your gaps are no larger than 2 to 3 millimeters, you should qualify for at-home clear aligner therapy. At-home clear aligner therapy is simple, convenient, and extremely affordable. Plus, they usually close your small gaps within a matter of a few months. Simply wear your clear aligners as instructed and watch those gaps disappear within a few months!

MEDIUM-SIZED GAPS

Use Invisalign ®

Gap teeth combined with bite problems should never be treated at home. Consider dentist delivered aligners or braces instead.

Small gap teeth can be successfully treated using at-home clear aligner programs. However, larger gap teeth require dentist supervision. Also, avoid at-home and DIY aligner programs like Smile Direct Club™ if there are any sort of bite issues or gaps in-between your back teeth. DIY aligners could worsen your bite relationships, create food traps, or lead to other serious dental problems. These types of conditions always require dentist-supervised clear aligner treatment such as Invisalign®.

With dentist-supervised clear aligner programs like Invisalign®, your dentist continuously monitors your progress. Your dentist will ensure that your back teeth are moving correctly into their desired position. They correct any bite issues and remove potential interferences along the way. To learn more about dentist-supervised clear aligner programs like Invisalign®, click on the button below to find a dentist near you and start your straight smile journey today:

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When are your gaps too large for clear aligners?

If your gap teeth are very large, greater than 1/3 of an inch, they can not be closed with clear aligners. These large gaps are usually the result of having lost a back tooth or because of missing multiple teeth. You require a bridge or dental implant to close these larger gaps.

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