While teeth that aren’t straight can give your face a unique look and your own personal charm, they can cause problems for your dental health and your self esteem. The short answer to what causes crooked teeth is twofold: your teeth can erupt crooked or they can become crooked as you get older. Let’s take a closer look at the factors that influence how your teeth erupt and when you might consider orthodontic braces or clear aligners to straighten them.
What Causes Crooked Teeth To Emerge Crooked?
It is possible for both baby and adult teeth to emerge crooked. Often with baby teeth it is due to the jaw being too small to accommodate all the teeth. With baby teeth it is possible for other causes of crooked teeth to occur. These include factors like continuous sucking on a bottle, pacifier or thumb, which physically moves and pushes the teeth out of alignment. It also includes habits like breathing through the mouth and tongue thrusting. Of course factors like genetics also influence how straight the teeth emerge.
In the event that baby teeth are lost too early, and especially because of trauma to the mouth, it is possible that the adult teeth will not emerge straight.
Other Factors That Causes Crooked Teeth
The Size Of Your Jaw Plays A Role
The size of the jaw influences whether baby and permanent teeth emerge crooked or straight. There is a common belief that the evolution of the human diet has resulted in us developing smaller jaw sizes in general. While foods would have been tougher to eat by earlier man, modern diets incorporate softer foods that are easier to chew and process, and this may be one of the causes of crooked teeth in modern humans.
The Alignment Of Your Jaw Is Also Important
Problems with jaw alignment, such as an over- or under-bite can also have a direct impact on how straight your teeth emerge.
When your ajws are aligned correctly your upper teeth should fit just over your lower teeth but if they do not line up like this.
Inheritance
Heredity and genetics play a role in how straight your teeth are. If your parents had crooked teeth there is a statistical likelihood that you may too.
Nutrition Factors
The development of strong, healthy, straight teeth require a balanced diet that is rich in essential nutrients. If you do not get optimal nutrition it is quite possible that your teeth may not emerge straight.
Good Oral Health Plays A Role
When your dental hygiene is neglected and you lose teeth because of cavities, decay or gum disease, a large space will open up in your mouth. This means that existing teeth may drift in order to compensate for those spaces, and newly emerging teeth may ccoe out crooked in order to correct the problem. Having a dentist check your teeth every six months is an essential part of your dental defense.
Using Orthodontic Braces And Clear Aligners To Straighten Teeth
Having straight teeth is an important part of maintaining good dental health because crooked teeth are very difficult to keep clean and free of cavities and decay. Having crooked teeth affects your self esteem and social confidence and many patients who do not have straight teeth do not want to smile openly when they feel happy or excited.
Clear aligners and orthodontic braces give you the opportunity to correct crooked teeth and jaw alignment problems so that you can restore dental health and self confidence. Both treatment options can provide straighter teeth in a similar timeframe, depending on the level of correction you need.
Traditional orthodontic braces are highly effective at correcting both issues and while they may not be so comfortable, the benefits far outweigh any inconvenience or temporary discomfort during orthodontic treatment. You will need to visit your dentist regularly for adjustments to orthodontic braces and practice meticulous dental hygiene in order to avoid decay.
For older patients and adolescents who are very self aware and want a more discrete approach to teeth straightening, clear aligners provide the benefits of teeth straightening without the visibility of metal braces. Clear aligners can be removed for eating and drinking, which is an important step in keeping them clean and transparent, but they do need to be worn for a minimum period of 20 to 22 hours a day in order to be effective and achieve your treatment milestones.
To find out more about what causes crooked teeth and the best orthodontic treatment for you please contact us: (02) 8203 8760.
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