Fixing a Tooth Gap at Home: What Works and What Doesn’t

Most treatments can’t be done from home, or not safely. Many DIY methods may provide temporary cosmetic results, but they are not dentist-reviewed methods and won’t be treated as permanent options. Improper techniques may also harm your teeth and gums. A dental health expert can give you the best and most long-lasting results based on your individual situation using safe and healthy treatment, so it is always better to consult a dentist in Edmonton.

In this blog, we will detail the home remedies people do to cure tooth gaps, why they may not work for them, and the professional options they have for safely closing a gap.

What Are Some Causes of Tooth Gap?

Tooth gaps (diastemas) can happen for lots of reasons. They include:

• Mismatch of teeth size and jawbone
• There may be missing teeth, or baby teeth may have fallen out early
• Gum disease causing teeth to loosen
• Habits, such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusts

Nevertheless, many people want to fix their gap for either cosmetic or functional reasons.

Common Methods to Fix Tooth Gaps at Home

Many people have tried to close teeth gaps at home with popular methods that aren’t safe. Here is what you need to know about them:

Orthodontic bands or rubber bands

Using small rubber bands to pull two teeth together is probably one of the most common DIY trends circulating on social media. Although it might look cute, using rubber bands can damage your teeth and gums. When putting on the rubber band, you may leave gaps in the process of your teeth being pushed together, or worse yet, if the band is tucked under the gumline, the tooth may fall out!

Verdict: Not safe. Not recommended.

Dental wax or temporary bonding kits

Some over-the-counter kits attempt to place a material over your teeth to cover gaps, but they are temporary and primarily cosmetic. They don’t fix the gap, nor do they address the actual concern.

Verdict: These methods may be safe for a cosmetic cover-up only but not for a permanent solution.

Clear aligners (mail-order)

Mail-order aligners sound convenient and inexpensive, but they can be unsafe with no medical supervision. Poorly fitting aligners for you can cause your teeth to shift in the wrong way, complicate your bite pattern, or, worse yet, send signals to your jaw to complete disassociation

Verdict: Risky without professional supervision.

Can You Close a Gap in Your Teeth at Home?

There may be small changes made with some methods, but these methods are not safe or reliable. Only a dentist-approved way to fix a tooth gap can ensure healthy, long-term results. Trying to fix a small gap between front teeth without a dental consultation is not worth the potential risks.

Professional Solutions That Work

Here are tooth gap treatments in Edmonton that are safe and effective:

1. Orthodontics

Braces and clear aligning trays, such as Invisalign, are effective for filling spacing problems, or larger gaps, or multiple gaps. Orthodontics will slowly but surely align your teeth. Orthodontic treatment will close gaps and aid the bite function for your long-term dental health.

2. Dental Bonding

If your gap is small, dental bonding is an easy and inexpensive fix. Using a tooth-coloured composite resin, your dentist applies bonding material to the teeth on either side of the gap, and shapes it to make it look natural. Bonding is painless and usually completed in a single visit.

3. Porcelain Veneers

If a gap is small to moderate-sized, veneers may be a solution. They are ultra-thin, custom-made porcelain shells, which are bonded to the front of your teeth. They can also be used to correct dental issues like discoloration, uneven sizes, or misshapen teeth.

4. Dental Crowns or Bridges

If a gap is caused by one or more missing teeth, dental crowns or bridges may be the best fix. A dental bridge will fill in the space left blank with an artificial tooth, held in place with crowns on the adjacent teeth. Crowns also are helpful to restore single teeth that may be damaged, weakened, or have had a root canal treatment.

Why You Should Consult a Professional

An Edmonton dentist near you will take a close look at your teeth, gums, and bite to find out what’s causing the gap. They will help to determine the best treatment option for your individual needs and make sure it is appropriate for your oral health as a whole.

If you go to a dentist near you, the advantages include

• An accurate diagnosis, which gives you an understanding of what caused the gap
• A treatment plan that was designed for you
• A safe outcome that will get you healthy teeth and gums
• Care, a checkup where the dentist can see you are doing to maintain your smile.

Safe and Lasting Solutions Start with a Professional

When that gap in your tooth has got you thinking about fixing it, do not take the risk of a DIY style. Call Avalon Dental today and get the safe, professional care and guaranteed smile solutions you deserve.