Looking for how to reduce gap between teeth naturally at home? Focus on good oral care and chewing hard foods. See your dentist as they can best evaluate gap size changes. Home methods may help slightly if other factors allow.
- Gently massage gums near gaps daily. This increases blood flow and tissue growth.
- Eat foods like carrots that require hard chewing. This strengthens jaw muscles over time.
- Use oils like coconut oil on gums to decrease swelling and gap size.
- Proper cleaning supports healthy gum position of teeth.
- Get checked for issues before trying home methods.
- It may take consistency to slowly close small spaces naturally.
What is teeth gap
A teeth gap refers to a space between two or more teeth. It occurs when there is missing tooth or teeth, or when teeth are not aligned properly.
Having small gaps between teeth is considered a cosmetic imperfection by some, while larger gaps can potentially affect proper chewing or self-esteem.
In many cases, orthodontic treatment such as invisalign or dental veneers can be used to close mild to moderate teeth gaps.
Possible Causes of Gap in Teeth?
Crowded teeth
Teeth may be crowded together due to insufficient jaw size, pushing some teeth out of alignment and causing spaces between them.
Jaw abnormalities
Conditions that affect the shape or size of the jaw bone like having a very small jaw can interfere with proper tooth positioning.
Thumb/finger sucking
Prolonged digit sucking habit as a child can redirect jaw and teeth development, resulting in spacing issues.
Tooth abnormalities
Problems with tooth shape, size or formation during development in the jaw may disrupt the overall arrangement.
Crooked tooth roots
If tooth roots are misaligned due to damage or genetics, it can disrupt the crown’s placement leaving gaps.
Wisdom tooth removal
Extracting impacted third molars can cause the front teeth to shift into new places, leaving spacing.
Orthodontic treatment
Braces and aligners are sometimes used purposely to open spaces for later tooth movement into.
Underlying medical disorders
Diseases of bone like cleidocranial dysplasia may influence teeth positioning and gap development.
Poor oral hygiene
Not keeping gaps plaque-free can exacerbate any alignment or movement issues over time.
Tongue exercise for teeth gap
Tongue exercises have the potential to influence teeth gaps over time through muscle development and increased blood flow in the mouth.
Some easy exercises to try involve gently placing the tip of the tongue between the front teeth and doing light chewing motions without biting.
Repeating tongue twisters and words with “ng” sounds engages the upper palate muscles as well.
These simple routines done for 10-15 seconds, 2-3 times per day, can gently strengthen the tongue muscles and encourage them to exert subtle pressure which may potentially help reduce small gaps if practiced consistently over months. It’s always best to discuss concerns with a dentist or orthodontist as well.
How to reduce gap between teeth naturally at home
Here are few natural methods to reduce the gap between teeth naturaaly at home:
Massage gums
Gently massage gums near gaps daily. This increases blood flow and tissue growth.
Crunchy food
Eat foods like carrots that require hard chewing. This strengthens jaw muscles over time.
Natural oils
Use oils like coconut oil on gums to decrease swelling and gap size.
Brush and floss daily
Proper cleaning supports healthy gum position of teeth.
Visit dentist
Get checked for issues before trying home methods.
Be patient
It may take consistency to slowly close small spaces naturally.
Focus on good oral care and chewing hard foods. See your dentist as they can best evaluate gap size changes. Home methods may help slightly if other factors allow.
How to hide teeth gap temporarily
There are a few different options to camouflage a teeth gap for short-term needs without any permanent solutions. Applying natural teeth whitening strips across the gap area can draw attention to the whiter teeth instead.
Over-the-counter gap fillers that come in gel or plastic putty forms can be pressed into the space for immediate effect. Chewing gum, especially ones that gently stain teeth, can help fill in the visual gap.
A small dab of foundation makeup or tinted lip balm brushed over just the front teeth may disguise the color difference of the space. Strategically smiling with lips turned up ever so slightly can cover minor front gaps in photos.
Eating on the opposite side of the gap also de-emphasizes it. While none provide a permanent fix, these simple measures can comfortably hide a teeth gap temporarily when needed.
Can teeth gaps close naturally in adults
Teeth gaps can potentially close somewhat in adults, but the process is typically slower than in children.
As we age, the bones in our jaws and around our teeth become less flexible. However, teeth can shift minimally even after skeletal maturity due to factors like:
- Gentle pressure from tongue exercises over 6-12 months.
- Wearing clear aligners or braces to gradually nudge teeth into alignment.
- Gum tissue response to cleanings/flossing which can tighten over minor spaces.
- Natural tooth erosion over decades may reduce some edge-to-edge gaps.
- Bone remodeling may be induced through exercises like chewing to redistribute jaw mass.
Complete closure of adult teeth gaps without treatment is unusual due to rigidity of mature bone. Any movement tends to be 0.5-2 mm maximum. Larger gaps usually require veneers, crowns or implants to properly fill the space.
Younger adults have better potential due to greater skeletal plasticity. Consistency is key, and changes may take 1-2 years to see effect.
How you close your gap without braces
There are limited non-braces options for closing teeth gaps in adults. Gentle tongue exercises like pressing between the front teeth 10 times daily may help over 6-12 months through strengthening muscles and exerting subtle pressure.
Chewing sugarless gum for 30 minutes several times a week simulates chewing and encourages jaw muscle development. Dental bonding or veneers can be used to camouflage minor spacing, though they do not shift the teeth.
A clear plastic aligner treatment like Invisalign may allow for gap closure of 1-2mm maximum through gradual movement.
For larger spaces, professional options like permanent veneers or crowns are usually needed to thoroughly close the gap. While non-surgical closure without braces is difficult, consistency with low-impact interventions may help reduce smaller spacing over many months.
Key takeaways
- Gaps can be caused by crowded teeth, jaw issues, habits as a child or tooth problems during growth.
- Small gaps may slowly close over 1-2 years with tongue exercises and chewing gum but changes are minimal.
- Big gaps need braces, aligners or treatments like veneers to fully close the space between teeth.
- Temporary methods like whitening stripes or makeup can hide gaps a short time without long term fixes.
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