Small gap

[Anxiety Riddled]

I developed a small gap between my front bottom teeth over the last year/year and a half. What would cause this to happen? Do I need to worry that my teeth are unstable or may be (or become) loose?

 

[Gordon]

Any chance of some more information, you've not given much to go on
Size of the gap?
How old are you?
Smoker?
Any spaces further back from missing canines/premolars?
Any previous history of wearing orthodontic appliances?

 

[Anxiety Riddled]

@Gordon I’m 34. Non smoker. As for size I would say about the size of two sheets of paper maybe. It’s not large at all but they used to touch and be very tight together. The other side of the right bottom tooth has always had a small gap (if that information is at all helpful). The new gap is between my very front two bottom teeth. Never had any orthodontic appliances. Only change to my mouth would be all 4 wisdom teeth were removed last May.

 

[Gordon]

Teeth aren't set into your jaws immovably, they are capable of moving around a little bit. If you've had a space between other front teeth then it's possible that the remaining front teeth are just shuffling around a little bit to equalise the spaces. Removing wisdom teeth isn't likely to have made a difference.

The other reason would be fairly advanced periodontal disease, but this is very, very unlikely given your age and lack of smoking. You'd probably also notice them being loose if you gave them a wiggle.

 

[Anxiety Riddled]

@Gordon thank you for your response! The periodontal disease is what I’m worried about. When I went to the oral surgeon to get my wisdom teeth removed he said I had some minor bone loss in my front bottom teeth. I’m terrified of my teeth becoming loose so I never really touch them. From what I can tell they aren’t loose but my anxiety tells me otherwise… How likely are teeth to become loose with minor bone loss?

 

[Gordon]

Not at all likely. It would be worth seeing your general dentist soonish though to get this investigated properly. Like everything else, catching bone loss early makes a big difference