How Much Space Should There Be Between My Teeth?

Extra space between teeth is a very common concern for many people. While some gaps are a cosmetic concern, some can negatively impact oral health. On the flip side, teeth can also be too tight and not have enough space between them, which is known as crowding.

Crowding: Not Enough Space

Too little space between your teeth is commonly known as crowding. If your teeth are overcrowded, it can be very hard to properly take care of and clean them. In many cases, if a patient is unable to practice good oral hygiene because of crowding, there can be an overgrowth of bacteria, resulting in plaque, gingivitis, cavities, and tooth decay. Improper alignment of teeth can cause an incorrect bite, leading to pain or discomfort.

Genetics is a very common cause of overcrowding. A person who is born with a small jaw might not have enough space to accommodate all adult teeth that come in. In that case, as a child, as teeth come in, they will be crooked and overlap each other. Another cause is losing teeth too quickly. Your teeth should fall out on a schedule, allowing time for the adult teeth to replace the space shortly after. As a child, if your teeth fall out way before the adult teeth are ready to come in, your baby teeth may shift to fill those empty spots. By the time your adult teeth are ready to come in, there may be little space to do so.

Diastema: Too Much Space

Diastema is a gap or space between teeth. These spaces can be between any two teeth, but are often more noticeable between the front two. Gaps can vary in size. Some are small enough that they are hard to notice. Others are large enough that they can cause problems and be a cosmetic issue.

Diastema is not caused by one thing in particular; there can be several contributing factors, such as missing teeth, your teeth being too small for your jaw, or an oversized frenum. The labial frenum is the strip of tissue connecting your upper lip to the center of your gums right above your top front two teeth. If your frenum is oversized and extends between the front two teeth, this can block them from coming together, causing a gap. Diastema can also develop from repeatedly pressing your tongue against your front teeth. For example, you should always press your tongue against the roof of your mouth when you swallow. If you press your tongue against the front of your teeth, that pressure can sometimes cause a gap to form over a long period of time. Another common cause is gum disease. As gum disease advances, infection can damage the bone supporting your teeth. As that bone density decreases, your teeth may shift, causing gaps to form.

How to Treat Diastema?

There are many effective ways to close the gap between your teeth for health or cosmetic reasons. Each method is tailored to the underlying cause of the gap or your own personal preference. Braces are commonly used to correct teeth positioning, bite function, and misalignment. To correct diastema, braces gradually adjust the position of your teeth with brackets and wires. Another way to treat diastema is with dental bonding. Dental bonding is when a small amount of tooth-colored resin is applied directly to the teeth, which can change the shape of your teeth, correct chips or cracks, hide tooth discoloration, and close the spaces or gaps between your teeth.

Veneers, a dental bridge, or dental implants are also recommended methods to fill the gaps between teeth. Veneers are strong, thin covers applied to the front of your teeth, similar to dental bonding but more customized and durable. A dental bridge closes the gap left by a missing tooth by connecting an artificial tooth to the nearby teeth. Single tooth implants are a popular choice for someone who may not want to undergo orthodontic treatment but is looking for a more permanent solution to their gap. A dental implant requires a titanium post to be surgically placed into the jawbone to replace a missing tooth. After the implant is in, a custom-made crown is attached to permanently fill the gap.

Whether you have a gap and want to fix it for health reasons or cosmetic reasons, call us to make an appointment.

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