5 Signs That It's Time to Fix the Gap in Your Teeth

Do you feel self-conscious about the gap between your teeth? Three out of every five people don’t love their smile. 

While some people embrace their unique smile, others may feel that a tooth gap detracts from their overall appearance. Mehrnoosh Darj, DDS, and the team at Dr. Darj Dental in El Paso, Texas, can help. We offer ClearCorrect® and Invisalign® metal-free orthodontic aligners to eliminate the gap.

If you're on the fence about whether to address a gap in your teeth, here are five signs that it may be time to consider treatment.

1. Difficulty chewing and speaking

If your tooth gap is large enough, it can affect your ability to chew and to speak properly. While a gap in your teeth doesn’t prevent you from chewing, it can make your chewing less effective, especially if food gets stuck in the gap.

Gaps are notorious for causing lisps, too. To make certain sound combinations, you need to press your tongue against your teeth, but if air escapes through a tooth gap, the result is a whistling sound.

2. Gum irritation

When you have gaps between your teeth, you're also at a higher risk of oral infections and gum irritation. These gaps can easily trap food particles and promote the growth and spread of harmful bacteria. Bacteria-laden plaque can irritate your gingival tissue and contribute to gingivitis. 

3. Self-consciousness

If you feel self-conscious about the gap between your teeth, it can impact your confidence and self-esteem. Fixing the gap can boost your confidence and make you feel good about sharing your smile with the world.

4. Shifting teeth

One of the biggest risks of not correcting a gap is that it can cause surrounding teeth to shift, potentially leading to misalignment and bite issues. Malocclusion can make it more difficult to chew, but it can also contribute to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain.

5. You have other orthodontic concerns

Gaps are just one of many orthodontic issues that can arise. You might consider fixing the gap in your teeth if you also experience crowding, general crookedness, or malocclusion.

Fixing the gap in your teeth

If you're considering clear aligners to straighten your teeth, we have options for you. The first step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Darj to discuss your concerns and determine if ClearCorrect or Invisalign is suitable for your specific needs. 

When you’re ready to start, we take impressions of your teeth and create a customized treatment plan with a series of clear, removable plastic aligner trays that gradually shift your teeth into the desired position — closing the gap in your smile. You can achieve a great smile without the discomfort and appearance of traditional braces. As a result, you can:

• Chew with comfort 
• Speak clearer without a lisp
• Feel confident in your smile
• Enjoy the many health benefits of smiling more often

If you’ve had it with that gap in your teeth and you’re ready to eliminate it, call Dr. Darj Dental at 915-213-4097 or request an appointment online.