Most people feel confident when they smile because of the happy hormones released while smiling. But gaps in the teeth can ruin their self-confidence. Are you one of those who feel embarrassed and self-conscious about laughing or smiling because of the gaps between the teeth? And you don’t know which is the best option to treat those gaps. There are different ways to close the gaps, but it can be confusing to find out which works best for you. Is there any technique to fill those awkward gaps at home? Don’t worry, you are not alone. In this article, let’s talk about how to reduce the gap between teeth naturally at home in ways that are long-lasting and efficacious.
Table of Contents
How to Reduce Gap Between Teeth Naturally at Home?
What Are Gap Bands?
Gap bands are elastic bands that encircle around your teeth to close the gap between two teeth. Some people use only elastic bands at home to reduce the gap naturally without the help of a dentist.
Do Gap Bands Work To Reduce the Tooth Gap?
No, gap bands do not work effectively to reduce the tooth gap. There is no science-based evidence to support the gap band technique, and it is very unsafe to use them at home. Many companies sell them online.
However, they don’t have any evidence to support the claim that these bands will close the gap effectively and safely. Generally, dentists and orthodontists do not recommend these gap bands.
Are Gap Bands Dangerous?
Gap bands are not standard methods of treatment to close the gap between teeth and are considered a dangerous method of closing. Because they can move upwards on your tooth over time and cause significant pain and discomfort.
As they move upwards in your teeth, they damage the gums, roots, and bones and destroy the supporting structures that help to hold the tooth in place, which loosens the teeth and ultimately leads to tooth loss.
What Are the Gaps Between Teeth?
Gaps between teeth cause dissatisfaction or low confidence in your smile. Usually, the gaps are spaces between two teeth (localized spacing) or spaces between all the teeth (generalized spacing).
What Are the Causes Of the Gap Between Teeth?
- A mismatch between jaw and tooth size: There is a mismatch between jaw size and tooth size. If the jaw bone size is large and the tooth size is small, eventually a gap forms between the teeth.
- Habits: Some childhood habits, such as tongue thrusting and thumb sucking, can cause gaps between teeth.
- Soft tissue growth: A soft tissue growth between the upper lips and the upper front two teeth causes midline diastema (gaps in the front teeth), which is a very common gap found in many individuals.
- Poor oral hygiene: Poor oral hygiene causes gum disease and gum recession, which creates spaces between the teeth.
- Improper swallowing: Improper swallowing methods in children make them move their tongue against the front upper teeth, which results in forward-placed teeth with gaps.
What Are the Best Methods To Close the Gap Between Teeth?
Some of the best methods to close the gap between teeth are dental resin bonding, porcelain veneers, clear aligners, and traditional braces.
Dental Resin Bonding
Resin bonding is a cosmetic procedure where the dentist applies tooth-colored composite resin to the tooth. The resin gets hard after curing it with UV light. The procedure does not involve the removal of tooth structure. Since it does not involve the removal of tooth structure, it is reversible and not a permanent solution to fix the gap.
Dental Veneers
In this procedure, the dentist will prepare the tooth according to the desired shape. After measurements, the lab technician prepares the porcelain according to the measurements. The porcelain fits the gap effectively and it hardens after curing with light.
It is a permanent and irreversible procedure. Dental veneers are purely cosmetic procedures that are quick and require only 2 to 3 dental visits.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are an excellent alternative to traditional braces. The dentist will customize the tray according to the patient’s alignment of teeth. They are clear trays, removable during eating, making them a convenient option for many who are stuck in a busy schedule.
Retainers
Retainers help to retain the desired position of the teeth in the long run and are part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Traditional Braces
The traditional brackets use brackets, wires, and bands to move the teeth to the proper position. Elastic bands fix the brackets and wires in place.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are similar to traditional braces. Traditional braces are fixed to the front side of the teeth, while lingual braces are fixed to the back side of the teeth.
Key Takeaways
- Fixing the tooth gaps is important because a smile can impact your self-confidence.
- One should choose the right method to fix the gaps because choosing the right method can be challenging.
- Dentists do not recommend gap bands because they move upward, causing pain and discomfort to the gums, root, and bone eventually leading to tooth loss.
- Veneers are cosmetic, permanent, and reversible solutions to fixing tooth gaps, while resins are reversible and can wear off easily.
- Clear aligners are transparent trays, easy to use, and a good alternative to traditional braces.
- Retainers are used to maintain the desired alignment in the long term after the aligner or traditional braces treatment.
- The safest methods to fix the gap between teeth are dental resins, traditional braces, clear aligners, and dental veneers.
See Also…
How Much Is Teeth Bonding {A Guide}(Opens in a new browser tab)
How Much Do Braces Hurt On A Scale Of 1-10?(Opens in a new browser tab)
