Gap teeth – or diastema to give it its dental name – occurs fairly often in children. It may happen to their baby teeth, but there is no sign when their adult teeth come in, or it may carry on into adulthood. It tends to be characterized by a gap between the teeth – usually the front teeth. Traditionally, gap teeth were seen as undesirable, but more and more people are embracing their gaps. So, should you keep your gap?
What Causes Gap Teeth & Do I Have to Have it Closed?
Gap teeth can be caused by a few different things; it could be down to overcrowding, missing teeth, tongue placement, thumb sucking or simply the underlying muscle and bone structure. Most of the time, choosing to have your gap teeth addressed is no more than a cosmetic decision, like having porcelain veneers London done. However, on some occasions having a gap could throw off your bite, which in turn can cause jaw pain, headaches, TMJ pain and crowding; obviously, if this happens, you will need to have these issues addressed, which is likely to mean having your gap closed.
Keeping the Gap
Gap teeth have a significance in some cultures. For example, in France, having gap teeth are often seen as a sign of luck; in Nigeria, they are seen as a symbol of beauty or strength. It is about reframing your mindset. Gap teeth are becoming more common; after all, a number of celebrities and models are prized for their gap teeth which are seen as part of their personal USP.
Remember the uproar when Dakota Johnson’s gap closed? Famous examples of people who have embraced their gap include figures like Georgia May Jagger, Madonna, Michael Strahan and Elijah Wood. Today, there are definitely more examples of gap teeth in popular culture. Think about where your gap came from; is it a family trait? Perhaps you need to think of your gap as something to be celebrated, a trait that makes your look unique and enhances it.
Closing the Gap
If you do want to close your gap teeth, then you do have a few options at your disposal. You could go down the clear aligner route – check out ALIGNERCO for more information. You could ask your dentist or orthodontist for their advice; they can evaluate your diastema and tell you which option would prove to be the most effective. In some instances, if your teeth are otherwise aligned well, and your bite is not affected, then you could be offered veneers to minimize the appearance of the gap. If you love your gap and want to keep it, then your dentist should also be able to help you to safeguard the health and integrity of your teeth while maintaining the gap.
To Conclude
Gap teeth are a lot more celebrated today than they have been in the past. This is why choosing to close your gap or have your teeth ‘fixed’ is a personal choice. In the end, it comes down to you and how you feel about it. If it is affecting your self-confidence, then by all means, go for it. However, it should be a personal choice; societal pressure and other people’s opinions shouldn’t come into it.