When you think of ageing, grey hair, wrinkles, and loose skin come to mind. But that’s not all—as you age, your smile inevitably changes as well. In fact, despite appearing solid, the teeth will also show signs of ageing.
Here are some changes you may take note of as you grow older:
Teeth shifting closer together
Also known as the “physiological mesial drift,” your teeth have a natural tendency to move towards the midline of your dental arch over time. This shift happens because the roots of your teeth are not cemented to the bone, but are surrounded by a special layer of gum tissue that reacts to the forces of chewing and induces a forward drift of the teeth. Loss of bone mass due to advanced age and gum disease also causes the teeth to slowly shift as bones weaken and bone density decreases. As your jawbones shrink, and molar teeth drift forwards, your front teeth have less and less space, leading them to crowd together.
Teeth that shift too close to each other may also end up overlapping. Unfortunately, this makes it harder for you to clean your teeth, as your toothbrush may not be able to squeeze into tight spaces between overlapped teeth. Hence, to keep your teeth shiny, you should floss regularly, which will keep your teeth free from plaque buildup between the teeth. Fortunately, it is also possible to manage unwanted movement of your teeth by getting retainers or braces.
Teeth gaps
Loss of teeth due to decay or gum disease may cause irregular spacing to occur gradually. Because teeth take the load of biting forces, those teeth next to empty spaces may tilt or collapse into these gaps, changing the shape of your smile.
Teeth changing colour
Your tooth enamel is what keeps your smile radiant, but wear and tear may cause your teeth to lose some of their shine. As you age, the enamel becomes thinner, revealing the dentine underneath, which has a natural yellow colour. At the same time, the dental pulp of your teeth lays down more dentine, which darkens over time.
The consumption of acidic food and beverages like coffee and tea also stains your teeth, causing them to look yellow or brown.
Teeth changing shape and length
Your teeth are not indestructible: the years of chewing food and consuming acidic drinks wear down your enamel, which causes your teeth to appear shorter. Grinding your teeth when you sleep also accelerates the wearing-down process.
The converse may also occur, with teeth appearing to grow longer over time. This change happens due to gum recession, where our gums cover less of the root over time and thus offer less support for our teeth. Poor oral hygiene and aggressive over-brushing of teeth also contribute to the process.
Changing bite
Your bite deepens over the years; a mild overbite may become more severe in the future. This is particularly so if you have strong jaw muscles and weak or inflamed gums.
Conclusion
The smile is one of the most important features of the face that many tend to overlook, but don’t worry: it’s never too late to fix your teeth and get a winning smile. If you’re worried about aesthetics, consider Invisalign. Not only is the cost of clear braces highly affordable, but they are also less distracting. Contact us today at https://www.bigsmile.com.sg/ to find out more about our treatment options and services!
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