What Are the Causes of Crooked Teeth and How to Correct Them?

Many adults, including children, have crooked and misaligned teeth. These dental issues are common. However, you should not feel pressured to straighten your teeth, especially when the misalignment does not affect your dental function or cause any health issues.

Your teeth shape and placement are unique and contribute to your look. As you read on, you will understand the cause of crooked teeth and how you can realign them.

What can cause crooked teeth?

Baby and permanent teeth can erupt in crooked positions or gradually become crooked. In some cases, baby teeth become crooked because they are small compared to the gum space the teeth need to fill.

Habits like sucking on the thumb or a pacifier for an extended period can also push out the baby teeth, making them crooked. Genetics may also contribute to having crooked teeth.

Babies with crooked temporary teeth may not have crooked permanent teeth. Still, if the baby teeth are crowded, the permanent teeth may also be crowded.

Tooth decay and trauma to the mouth can cause one or several baby teeth to fall out before they are supposed to. This could make the permanent teeth erupt from the gum diagonally. Other causes of crooked baby teeth that may also affect the baby teeth include:

·         Jaw size

Our modern diet primarily consists of processed and soft food that require less chewing, unlike foods our early ancestors ate. This change in diet has collectively changed the jaw size, making it smaller.

Scientists believe that the evolved jaw, which is shorter, is the cause of crooked, misaligned and crowded teeth.

·         Poor myofunctional habits

Myofunctional habits are continuously repeated behaviours affecting muscles in the face or mouth. These habits include using a pacifier or bottle, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting and thumb sucking

·         Malocclusion (misaligned jaw)

For your teeth to remain in a perfect resting position, the upper teeth should fit slightly farther than the lower teeth. The molar points should fit into the lower molar grooves, but malocclusion occurs if this is not the case.

The common malocclusions include underbite and overbite. In an overbite, the upper front teeth protrude farther than the lower front teeth, but in an underbite, the lower front teeth rest farther than the upper front teeth. Malocclusions are mostly due to poor myofunctional habits.

·         Genetics and heredity

If a parent or both have crowded teeth, you will likely have crooked teeth.

·         Poor dental care

Failing to visit a dental professional at least once a year for checkups can make dental issues such as cavities and gum diseases go undetected. Untreated dental problems such as cavities and gum disease can lead to further dental problems, including crooked teeth.

·         Poor nutrition

Inadequate consumption of essential nutrients, especially in children, can cause poor dental development and tooth decay, potential causes of crooked teeth.

·         Facial injury

Trauma to the mouth or face can remove the teeth, making one or several teeth crooked.

Problems resulting from crooked teeth

Sometimes, crooked teeth can affect the quality of life. An example is misaligned teeth affecting your ability to chew correctly, resulting in pain whenever you eat. Some persons with crooked teeth also feel self-conscious about their teeth, preventing them from smiling. Other health resulting from crooked teeth include the following.

·         Periodontal disease

Cleaning between crooked teeth is usually difficult and painful. This may make most people avoid cleaning their teeth, resulting in gum disease and tooth decay. Untreated gum disease can result in periodontal disease, a more severe infection that damages the teeth and underlying bones.

·         Digestion and chewing

Sometimes, crooked teeth affect proper chewing, resulting in digestion problems.

·         Excess wear

Having crooked teeth causes excess wear and tear of the jaw muscles, gums and teeth, which results in cracks on the teeth, chronic headaches and temporomandibular joint disorder.

·         Speech difficulties

If you have misaligned teeth, they may affect your sound articulation resulting in speech difficulties.

·         Low self-esteem

When you are unhappy with your physical appearance due to your crooked teeth, you may avoid social interactions and experience low self-esteem.

Should I straighten my crooked teeth?

Straightening your teeth is a decision only you can make. Many people do not straighten their teeth due to financial constraints or dental health insurance. However, you also have to consider the health effects of crooked teeth.

If you feel self-conscious because of your crooked teeth, you can opt for straightening them. However, certain imperfections make you unique. For example, in Japan, people, especially women with slightly crooked teeth, are more attractive.

Teeth straightening options

If you’ve decided to straighten your teeth, several options are available for you to consider. For instance, braces are a good option for people who want to straighten their teeth regardless of age.

Braces are particularly suitable for children because they still have flexible, malleable bone tissues and gums. Teeth straightening with braces can last for 2 – 3 years, depending on the braces chosen and the degree of misalignment. You can also consider teeth straightening surgery which requires less time to achieve the desired result.

Below are the different types of braces, including surgical options.

·         Metal braces

Metal brace shave brackets and wires attached to the teeth and connected with flexible wires. Fixed metal braces are a good option for people with complex dental misalignments. In some cases, the dentist or orthodontist will recommend wearingheadgear at night to enable faster teeth straightening.

Metal braces were the first type of available braces. However, there have been some changes making them better. Metal braces now have less metal and smaller brackets, and they cause less discomfort. You can opt for multi-coloured rubber bands to add more style to the metal braces.

On average, metal braces cost between £2000 - £5000, depending on your location, insurance coverage, and the amount of work needed.

·         Ceramic braces

Like metal braces, ceramic braces have brackets and wires, but they are clear or tooth-coloured, making ceramic braces less obvious than metal brackets. The teeth straightening process is similar to metal brackets, but ceramic braces get stained easily.

Ceramic braces are also more expensive,costing between £2500 - £5500, depending on several factors.

·         Invisible braces

Invisalign and other invisible braces are almost invisible and suitable for adults and teens. The aligners are custom-made for each patient. Clear aligners are similar to a mouthguard, and you can remove them daily, replacing each set after two weeks.

Invisible braces are not always suitable for severe teeth realignment, and treatment may take longer than traditional braces. They cost between £2500 - £6000, depending on several factors such as your location. Most Invisalign and invisible braces providers offer Invisalign treatment in London via monthly payment plans.

·         Lingual braces

Lingual braces are another type of invisible braces fitted on the lingual surface of the teeth, close to the tongue. Lingual braces are similar to metal braces, but the difference is in their placement. Lingual braces are unsuitable for some people,and they are expensive, costing from £3500 - £9500.

Lingual braces are also hard to clean and not recommended for severe cases. The duration of treatment is longer, and the fitting is more complicated.

·         Teeth straightening surgery

Undergoing surgery to straighten the teeth is another viable option, requiring a reduced treatment duration and need for braces. The orthodontist may recommend minor surgery to reposition the gums and bones holding the teeth in place.

Another more extensive surgical procedure called orthognathic surgery to realign the jaws is also possible. This surgery is a treatment option if the teeth position affects chewing or speech. The cost of teeth straightening surgery depends on the surgery, your health insurance and location.

What to expect at the orthodontist’s or dentist’s office

When you visit a dentist, they will carry out a dental exam and recommend you to a specialist called an orthodontist if necessary. The orthodontist will ask about your symptoms, including if you experience a popping sound when closing or opening your mouth or physical discomfort while chewing or carrying out any dental function.

You will undergo mouth x-rays, then the dental professional will take your teeth moulds. If your condition requires braces, you will receive custom-made ones at another appointment.

If you’ve decided to straighten your crooked teeth, you can visit Adult Braces London to get started on a suitable treatment.