What is Diastema and How Can You Get Rid of It

Diastema refers to a dental condition in which you have a visible gap between your teeth. Both kids and adults can have this condition. This gap can be visible between any teeth. Consulting the best Dentist in Bangalore can be helpful to you. These gaps can get filled on their own sometimes in kids when their new teeth start to emerge.

People often dismiss diastema as a cosmetic problem. But it can be a serious dental threat.  

Causes of Diastema

• Natural Growth: Sometimes, gaps in the front teeth can be due to natural growth in kids. This gap is very common in kids between 6-8 years of age. This gap disappears most of the time due to the formation of upper canines in kids.
• Abnormal Size, Position, and Shape of Teeth: The possibility of the gap is also enhanced with abnormal-sized or shaped teeth. Odd positioning can also contribute to it. This prevents the teeth from getting the support and strength to remain together.
• Missing Teeth: Underdeveloped or missing teeth can also contribute to teeth gaps.
• Outgrown Labial Frenum: Labial frenum is a dental tissue that covers the upper lip’s inside and the gum above the upper front teeth. Outgrowing of this tissue also leads to teeth gaps.
• Periodontitis: It is a gum disease that damages tissues and teeth bone. Teeth get loosened up due to this infection, thus forming a gap.
• Incorrect Swallowing Reflexes: Proper swallowing makes your tongue press against the roof of your mouth. If you swallow your food incorrectly by constantly pushing your front teeth with the tongue, it can form a gap.
• Presence of tongue stud: If you get your tongue pierced, you can get your teeth formation disturbed due to budging of the stud.

Symptoms of Diastema

Here are the symptoms of diastema apart from gaps in teeth. These symptoms are:

• Receding gums
• Swollen and Tender gums
• Bad Breath
• Bleeding gums
• Loose teeth
• Bright Red Gums

Treatments for Diastema

You can get rid of this disease with the help of treatment. Children, however, don’t require treatment due to the falling of their milk teeth. If you don’t face any dental risk, then you don’t need to get it treated. You can also get it treated for cosmetic reasons too. Here is the list of treatments mentioned below:

• Braces: This is the most commonly used treatment method. Braces put the pressure on teeth together to get closer to each other. However, you may need to wear a complete set of braces to fill a single gap too. 
• Veneers: A veneer is a thin piece of porcelain put on the surface of your teeth. 

How to Prevent Diastema

• Brush your teeth twice a day.
• Floss once a day.
• Break habits like thumb-sucking.
• Maintain a proper swallowing method.
• Get your teeth checked on a regular basis.

Gaps in teeth can be healed in childhood, but if they remain in your adulthood, then they should be treated to get rid of bad breath and other damages of this disorder.