As we grow up, our teeth slowly protrude outwards

Whether teeth are beautiful or not is also very important to a person's appearance. Some people have teeth that protrude outwards due to genetic factors, while others have their entire gums protrude outwards, which is what people usually call buck teeth. Many adults find that their teeth are slowly protruding outward as they age. We say that in addition to age factors, this may also be caused by some bad chewing habits.

1. The reason why teeth gradually protrude outward after adulthood

Normal teeth have a normal occlusion relationship. The upper and lower teeth with the same name are interlocked and the force is relatively even. The lip relationship is normal and it is not easy to move. Teeth will still move after adulthood, and the degree of movement is related to the tooth occlusion, bad habits, oral periodontal conditions, chewing habits, etc. Talking, eating, chewing and lip muscle contraction all have an impact on the teeth.

2. Why do people have buck teeth?

Patients with buck teeth often have open lips and exposed teeth. Their lips cannot close naturally, and their gums are too exposed when they smile. They are often accompanied by a retracted chin. When they are forced to close their mouths, there is an obvious soft tissue bulge between the lower lip and the chin. The upper and lower front teeth in the mouth are lip-tilted, often accompanied by crowding and unevenness, and the front teeth have deep overbite and deep overjet. In medical terms, "buck teeth" actually refers to maxillary protrusion or bimaxillary protrusion. It is usually not accompanied by serious functional disorders, but it greatly affects the appearance. The main purpose of patients seeking treatment is to improve their appearance.

The cause and pathogenesis of "buck teeth" have not yet been elucidated. It may be caused by congenital genetic factors and acquired bad habits. The disease has obvious racial characteristics and familial clustering tendency; however, acquired bad habits, such as mouth breathing, tongue sticking out, lower lip biting and adult sucking habits may also be the cause of the disease.

3. Why are protruding teeth more obvious as you get older?

Because when people are young, there is still plenty of collagen on their faces, which makes their faces look like baby fat, so buck teeth are naturally not obvious. As we age, the collagen in our face is lost and our cheeks become thinner, so our mouths appear larger than before. When we smile, our gums are exposed and our mouths can no longer cover our teeth, making buck teeth more and more obvious.

4. Will correction of buck teeth be effective?

For skeletal protrusions, the effect of wearing braces is not that obvious. However, in general, people's buck teeth are caused by both factors: some are more bone-related, while others are more dental-related. Therefore, even if there are bone factors, wearing braces can still have a certain effect. Of course, some people have severe skeletal protrusions that cannot be corrected with braces. In this case, the doctor will no longer recommend you to wear braces, because it will be ineffective and the doctor will be very troubled. Communicate well with your doctor.