What Causes Crooked Teeth?

We all have a dream of straight, beautiful teeth, but many people find themselves stuck with crooked teeth and can’t think of a way out. Although a person may have a mere misalignment or a large gap, that is a common anxiety-producing issue. Now, what produces the crooks? And are there ways to hinder them from forming?

Crooked teeth are not an overnight issue. Crooked teeth often are seen because of a mix of reasons being genetics, habits, and environmental factors. We will now go through some primary causes of crooked teeth and what you can do to stop them.

Genetics: It All Starts with the Genes

Just as the color of the eyes, height, and hair texture are inherited, the position of the teeth is mostly influenced by the genes. If your parents were with crooked teeth, the probability is higher that you will have it. The genes are involved in the process in the following ways:

Inherited Jaw Size and Shape:

• In case the jaw size is small, teeth that look fine may not have enough space to easily badly if not overcrowded would be forced to set themselves in the respective position which may lead to the overcrowding of teeth or a crooked smile.
• On the other hand, a larger jaw could result in the teeth not matching up, which may create spaces between the teeth or even lead to the development of overbites.

Inherited Tooth Size:

• There are individuals who have large or small teeth for the size of their mouths. When a person has large or big teeth, the teeth could not have enough space hence they start crowding, as a result, bigger teeth might be hard to clean thus the teeth will rot, while the tiny teeth can attract gaps around.

Although the genes cannot be altered, individuals can undergo orthodontic treatment to solve these problems!

Thumb Sucking and Other Childhood Habits

A lot of children, especially at a younger age, like to suck their thumbs or use artificial nipples. They might look harmless but they can actually be harmful to the teeth in their development and skeletal problems as children grow.

Thumb Sucking:

• Babies that suck their thumb during their early years may cause a protruded tooth in the upper front which may result in the opening of a bite or crooked teeth.
• Most habits when prolonged are the reason that there are permanent changes to the teeth that are crooked.

Prolonged Pacifier Use:

• If the pacifier is in prolonged use, it can jam the teeth setting and dislodge them, similar to thumb sucking, which can have dire consequences for teeth and the jaws.

Practicing these habits the sooner the better, serves as a prevention to long-term issues.

Poor Dental Habits and Misalignment

Your personal habits especially during childhood are impactful on the growth, tooth, and jaw. These are the most common offenders:

Mouth Breathing:

• If you breathe through your mouth instead of your nose (because of allergies, overriding nasal congestion, etc.), it can lead to incorrect tongue positioning. This will grow into the cause of narrow and/or misaligned jaws that in turn cause crooked teeth.

Poor Tongue Posture:

• If the tongue is the dominant force against the teeth, it will drive the teeth out of position. It occurs mostly for the individuals who have a tongue thrust habit.

Dental Injuries or Trauma

Unexpected incidents in which you find yourself can produce an impact on your teeth as well. A sudden fall, sports trauma, or accident can produce teeth that are fractured or displaced. This can as well lead to the teeth being prosecuted crookedly. No matter how straight your teeth were before the accident, the impact of the trauma suffered can initiate the realignment. This is especially possible when injuries occur in childhood at the stage of teeth development.

Overcrowding: Much Too Many Teeth, Not Enough Space, and Not in a Straight Line

In case your mouth is small or your teeth are too big for your mouth, you might get overcrowding. This occurs when each tooth has no enough space to erupt straight making them to overlap, twist, or shift out of place.

Crowding generally occurs in childhood or adolescence, but it also develops if the teeth continue to move when an adult.

Overbite and Underbite

The two common issues causing uneven teeth are the overbite and underbite.

Overbite:

• Overbite occurs when the upper teeth protrude and cover the lower teeth extensively. Not only can this cause teeth to look crooked but also it’s very painful to the bearer’s bite.

Underbite:

• Underbite takes place when the bottom teeth are extended in front of the upper teeth. The situation can make the teeth appear crooked and also have an effect on the way the jaws are aligned.

Mostly, these two conditions are passed down through family. But, also, they can be a result of the action of a human such as a person sucking fingers or using a pacifier for an extended time.

Missing Teeth or Early Tooth Loss

When teeth are lost early–due to accident, cavity, or surgery–other teeth may drift into the empty place and in the process cause crooked teeth. It usually occurs that when baby teeth come out too soon, the adult teeth are delayed.

Hormonal Changes and Dental Development

Hormones are mainly responsible for the development of your teeth since they play a crucial part during your puberty period. That is when your teeth and jaws will shift as you grow as a result of natural development. Sometimes, natural growth can be uneven resulting in the teeth getting curved if the growth is not even.

Treatment Options for Crooked Teeth

The great thing about crooked teeth is that they can be treated! Here are some of the solutions that are used the most to correct the alignment of your teeth:

Braces:

• Usually, traditional braces are the most effective way to align crooked teeth. These metal brackets and wires are used to shift the teeth gradually into a better position for an extended period of time.

Clear Aligners (like Invisalign):

• Clear aligners are a less visible way of correcting your crooked teeth compared to traditional braces. The aligners are made especially for your teeth so as to straighten them step by step, and the good thing is the aligners won’t be seen.

Retainers:

• At the end of the orthodontic treatment, the retainers play a big part in keeping your teeth in their new aligned position. They impede the teeth from retreating into the wrong position.

Veneers:

• In case your teeth are a little crooked and you don’t want to get braces, dental veneers are also an option. They are thin covers that are put over the front of the tooth, giving an illusion of a straighter smile.

Final Thought: Embrace Your Smile!

Crooked teeth are found in many people and they happen due to different reasons. Be the reason genes, childhood habits, or an accident, etc., it should be noted that the condition can be changed. At LEMA Dental Clinic in Istanbul, the treatment methods for various problems are numerous and by addressing them, the users can be helped in reclaiming their smile.

That is how it is, the time you were asking yourself, “Why are my teeth misaligned?”. Now, you have the answer and it is all positive because there is a remedy ready for you.

Touch your dream smile already today!