Have you noticed your teeth getting crowded and crooked?
Subtle changes in your habits or life can lead to crooked teeth later on. Even if you already had metal braces or other corrective measures, your teeth continue to shift as you age.
So what causes crooked teeth? And is there anything you can do to prevent more teeth from shifting?
You already know that oral health is an important part of your entire wellbeing. Besides causing stress about your appearance, crooked teeth can lead to ongoing oral health issues. Misaligned teeth can lead to difficulty chewing, speaking, and bite issues. Read on for more about crooked teeth solutions and causes.
1. Genetics
Your parents can pass a lot of things on to you, including how your teeth naturally grow in. Often what causes crooked teeth is not our fault. The size of your jaw can impact how your teeth fit in your mouth. Misaligned jaws not caused by injury are often genetic and can lead to over or underbites.
2. Poor Habits
Thumb sucking and other undue pressures on teeth when younger can lead to bite issues later on in life. Teeth can grow in crooked when pushed on by outside forces. Lack of quality nutrition can lead to tooth decay as well. Missing teeth can lead to shifts in the teeth around the open space.
Limiting sugary and acidic food and drinks is the best practice for protecting your enamel.
3. Injuries or Diseases
Past injuries to the face can cause your entire jaw to misalign. A jaw out of its proper alignment makes it difficult for teeth to grow in the proper direction.
Gingivitis and tooth decay are chronic conditions that also affect how teeth shift within your mouth. Diseased gums will not hold teeth in place as well as healthy ones. Regular brushing and flossing can prevent tooth and gum diseases, keeping your teeth straight and clean!
4. Breathing Problems
Allergies, asthma, and other conditions lead to mouth breathing. Especially when you're younger, mouth breathing can be part of what causes crooked teeth to grow in.
Losing baby teeth too early in your life or losing too many at once can lead to several oral issues later on. Chewing and swallowing problems can result, encouraging even more crooked growth.
Now You Know What Causes Crooked Teeth
How can you fix them?
Knowing what causes crooked teeth means you may be more ready to try to fix and maintain a straighter smile. Metal braces used to be a fairly popular option for straightening crooked teeth. There are several different brace options from metal, ceramic, and even clear plastic.
For extreme oral health concerns, your orthodontist or dentist may even recommend oral surgeries.
Braces are an accessible and affordable option for those wanting straighter teeth. For a more subtle option, clear aligners may be your best bet.
Invisalign and other clear aligners are popular ways to straighten teeth without the look of traditional braces. This option often takes longer but is less intrusive than traditional braces. If you are looking for straighter teeth and a confident smile check out this product for more info on how invisible braces work.