Why Are My Two Front Teeth Suddenly Separating?

Well, this one hit me out of nowhere too. One morning, I was brushing my teeth and bam—there it was. A tiny gap between my two front teeth that wasn’t there a few months ago. Weird, right? If you're in the same boat, wondering why your front teeth are suddenly parting ways like old friends, you're not alone. And yeah, it's kind of unsettling at first. But let’s unpack this together—honestly, there's more going on than you'd think.

What Causes Teeth to Start Separating in Adulthood?

Natural Shifting with Age

Teeth aren't locked in forever. I used to think they were (rookie mistake), but even in adulthood, they can shift. As we age, bone density decreases, gum tissues can recede, and the ligaments that hold your teeth in place become less stable. Add a bit of time, and... voilà, you get a gap.

And get this—I was chatting with my friend Jess (she’s a dental hygienist), and she said it's super common around your 30s or 40s. Especially if you've had braces in the past and didn’t wear your retainer. Guilty.

Gum Disease Might Be Sneakily Involved

Honestly, this was a surprise for me. Periodontal disease—aka gum disease—can cause your teeth to loosen and shift. It starts subtly, like bleeding when you floss, and can eventually erode the support structures around your teeth.

One dentist visit later, and they’re poking around my gums, measuring the pockets (weird experience, not gonna lie), and telling me I’ve got early signs of gingivitis. So yeah, not brushing and flossing perfectly every night might’ve played a part.

Habits You Don’t Even Realize Are Causing It

Tongue Thrusting or Pushing

This one sounds odd but hear me out—if you push your tongue against your front teeth when swallowing or speaking (yes, speaking), that constant pressure can slowly move them apart. I actually caught myself doing this after reading about it and was like “No way… have I been sabotaging my own smile?!”

Clenching, Grinding, or Nail Biting

Stress habits. Ugh. I grind my teeth when I’m anxious or tired—especially at night. And that force adds up. Over time, the pressure can cause teeth to shift, especially the front ones. Same goes for nail biting or chewing pens (guilty on all counts).

Orthodontic Relapse: The Braces Betrayal

You had braces, right? Same here. Spent three years of my teenage life with metal in my mouth, only to realize 10 years later that skipping my retainer “every now and then” (okay, like completely) let my teeth drift again. It’s called orthodontic relapse, and it’s incredibly common.

I was kicking myself when I found out. Like, all that pain for nothing?! Well… not nothing, but yeah, now I’m looking at clear aligners again. Adulting is wild.

When Should You Worry (And Actually Call Your Dentist)?

Honestly, if the gap is growing quickly, or if your teeth feel loose, don't wait. That could point to something more serious like advanced gum disease or even bone loss.

Also, if you're getting food stuck in the gap all the time—yeah, been there—it's not just annoying, it increases your risk of decay. Best to get it checked out before it turns into a bigger mess.

What Can You Do About It?

Get a Pro Evaluation

First step: see a dentist or orthodontist. I know, obvious—but sometimes we just… don’t. They’ll probably take X-rays, check your bite, maybe refer you to a periodontist if your gums are playing a role.

Consider Retainers or Aligners

If your teeth have shifted slightly, you might just need a custom retainer. But if the gap’s more noticeable, clear aligners like Invisalign might be the way to go. I’m currently testing a few options—will keep you posted.

Don't Ignore Your Gums

Seriously, take care of those gums. Brush gently but thoroughly, floss like it matters (because it really does), and maybe throw in a water flosser if you're like me and hate traditional floss.

Final Thoughts: It's Not the End of the World (But Don’t Ignore It)

So yeah, your front teeth are separating. It’s weird, it’s annoying, and it feels super obvious (even though, honestly, most people won’t even notice until you point it out). But you’re not doomed.

The sooner you figure out why, the easier it is to fix—and prevent more shifting. I made the mistake of waiting a bit too long, thinking “eh, it’s probably fine.” Don’t be like me.

And if you’re sitting there now, tongue poking the gap for the tenth time today—hi, same. Let’s get it sorted.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.