ELi5: why do our teeth continue to shift around as we get older?
In: 5
Think about how many times you chew throughout the course of a day, then a week, then a year, then a decade. Not to mention potentially grinding your teeth at night or when you’re stressed, biting on things out of habit, etc.
The term occlusion refers to the bringing of teeth into contact with each other. The physical forces on the tops and bottoms of the teeth can alter positioning very slowly over time based on how well or not well your teeth are occluding. That’s why retainers are important after you have braces to prevent this from happening.
Latest Answers