Diastema is a big word for a common feature in the human teeth structure. It is simply the space between any two teeth, commonly between the incisors and molars. Some folks definitely have no problem with an open space in the mouth, especially if it occurs in the middle of the four upper front teeth.

It’s their natural smiley charm. It makes their smile more endearing. For these folks, as far as their gleaming straight teeth are concerned, there is no cause for change. But not everybody shares this sentiment. You probably wonder why.

For cosmetic reasons, as much as gap teeth delight some individuals, in relation to the size of the space between the two teeth, it can be a nuisance for others. What makes one individual look attractive might not necessarily replicate the same effect in another individual. Whatever your feelings are about gap teeth, we just want to provide you more information so that you can make more informed decisions about your gap teeth here on out, in order to get more out of your teeth, both in function and appearance. After all, a set of sparkling straight teeth is the dream many people wish to realize. So, how does Diastema make its way into our dentition?

Causes of Diastema

Here are 5 five ways through which you might have come by your gap teeth.

  • Genetics

This is fairly easy to imagine, isn’t it? Your jawbone and teeth sizes are usually genetic. So if by any chance, your jawbones are large, and your permanent teeth are too small for them, there may be some space left in between some or, in some cases, all the teeth. Be rest assured that, if one of your parents is gap-toothed, there is a great likelihood that you’re gonna be sporting gap-toothed smiles once your permanent teeth are fully-grown.

  • Inflammatory gum enlargement

Inflammatory gum enlargement (Gingival Hyperplasia) occurs as a result of inflammation of the gums in your mouth. This is usually caused by plaque buildup on your teeth due to poor oral hygiene. Inflammatory gum enlargement can be made severe by advanced gum disease. When Gingival Hyperplasia occurs, it causes two or more teeth to grow apart, forming a gap between them. More so, you may develop diastema if there happens to be an overgrowth bordering your gum line and your two upper incisors (front teeth).

  • Certain childhood habits

It’s normal to be tempted to pacify your child with the use of a pacifier or to encourage thumbsucking. The downside to this is that, over a long period of time, this habit puts pressure on the front teeth, forcing a gap in between them after a while.

  • Incorrect swallow reflexes

When you swallow, the normal positioning of your tongue is at the roof of the mouth. But in some adults and older children, there are cases where, upon swallowing, the tongue pushes against the front teeth. In dental parlance, this is called Tongue thrust. Too much tongue pressure on the back of the teeth overtime causes diastema.

  • Gum disease

Having gum disease most certainly means you are battling with bleeding gums, bone loss, and ofcourse, loose teeth. These loose teeth most certainly give way to diastema as time goes on.

How to get rid of Diastema

Like we mentioned earlier, what you do with regards to your gap teeth is entirely up to you. If your gap teeth is your best body feature, feel free to rock it with pride whenever you smile. But if diastema is a nuisance to you and you want to get rid of it, you have every right to. There are several ways in which you can achieve this goal, but wouldn’t you want to take the easiest, most comfortable route?

When we say easy, most comfortable route, we mean AlignIT, an indigenous, custom-made set of clear aligners, made with your oral needs in mind. How does it work? As AlignIT clear aligners are made to suit your specific oral needs, a complete and accurate scan of your teeth has to be done to ascertain your oral landscape. This identifies the location of the space or spaces that you would love to close. Armed with this information, a set of clear aligners is made for you and sent to your home in your own impression kit. Each aligner is changed in approximately two weeks as they slowly move your teeth and gradually close up the spaces. In a short period of time, you’ll achieve your desired teeth formation; a beautiful set of straight teeth with no space between them. 

There you have it! A simple way to get rid of your diastema without stress. This is a dental process that has worked for our patients who desire straight teeth without spaces between them, and we have achieved a high rate of success. To get started on your treatment or to make more inquiries, kindly contact us on +2348107337585 or send us a mail at info@alignitng.com. However, if you’re still undecided, how about you take our smile assessment test on our website, www.alignitng.com, to come to a good conclusion. Getting rid of Diastema has always been easy with AlignIT. Contact us today to get started.