What Causes Crooked Teeth?

It’s been found that 3 out of 4 children have incorrectly developing jaws and crowded teeth! These are problems that can be seen as early as 5 or 6 years old. In addition, a study conducted by the American Association of Orthodontics concluded that around 1/3^rd of American adults were dissatisfied with their smile and felt their teeth were crooked. Early orthodontic intervention for your child can prevent their dissatisfaction with their smile in the future!

For the most part, we all know how orthodontic treatment works and why it’s necessary. What you may be asking yourself is why teeth grow in crooked in the first place.

What causes crooked teeth?

There are few causes of uneven or crooked teeth.

• The first and most common cause of crooked teeth is simply genetics. If your parents or their siblings had or currently have crooked teeth, odds are that you probably will as well. It’s important to keep an eye on your child’s teeth if there’s a genetic factor.
• Poor oral hygiene habits can result in uneven teeth as well. For example, if you neglect to brush, and you develop tooth decay, you may need to have a tooth pulled. Once this tooth is extracted, the other teeth in the mouth may shift around, creating spaces and crooked teeth.
• Bad habits can also contribute to uneven teeth, especially in children. Thumb sucking and the use of pacifiers can cause the front teeth to jut out and become crooked or uneven.
• Lastly, it’s been found that airway issues can have a significant impact on the way the jaw develops. Allergies, polyps or a deviated septum can play roles in the growth patterns of our teeth, causing them to become uneven.

The earlier you discover that your child needs braces, the better! For more information or to make an appointment at our office, please contact Great Outdoors Pediatric Dentistry! We are located in beautiful Dover, New Hampshire.