How Teeth Move

Orthodontics require the movement of teeth. Teeth will move if a gentle pressure is applied over a long time. The tongue, lips, and other teeth naturally move teeth. Thumbs or other things in the mouth for a long time will move teeth too. Orthodontic appliances apply pressure over a long time to move teeth. Most orthodontic appointments are four to six weeks apart to give the teeth sufficient time to move. More frequent adjustment appointments will slow treatment down rather than speed it up. If you are asked to place elastic bands or wear an appliance for much of the day, this is because the more frequently pressure is applied, the faster the teeth will move. If the pressure is not applied long enough during each day, the teeth will not move correctly, and may even move back to the old position.

When teeth are first moved, they can be extremely uncomfortable. Rather than avoiding the sore teeth, chewing on them is best. Chewing wiggles the teeth slightly and permits blood to flow to the bone and feed the cells that move the teeth. Pain medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) for the first couple of days can be very helpful.