What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Your teeth can become crooked for several reasons. They can erupt this way or shift out of alignment for various reasons. No matter what causes your misalignment, it is vital to treat your crooked teeth.
- Genetics: The size and shape of the mouth, jaw, and teeth are inherited traits. Genetic predispositions can lead to overcrowding or improperly fitting teeth, resulting in misalignment.
- Poor habits: Bad habits such as thumb sucking, using a pacifier for too long, and tongue thrusting in childhood can exert pressure on the teeth and jaw, leading to crooked teeth.
- Loss of baby teeth too early: Losing baby teeth too early may cause the remaining baby to shift out of place. This causes the permanent teeth to erupt slanted or crooked.
- Improper fit of dental restorations: Poorly fitted dental crowns, bridges, or fillings will alter the bite, forcing the neighboring teeth to move out of alignment.
- Injury: Trauma to the jaw or face can affect the alignment of the teeth.
- Poor Nutrition: Malnutrition, especially during key developmental years, can contribute to the development of crooked teeth.
- Other diseases and conditions: There are many other diseases and conditions that patients can have, such as osteoporosis, cleft palate, or tumors in the jaw that can lead to crooked teeth.
Crooked Teeth Can Impact Your Health
Crooked teeth negatively impact the aesthetics of your smile. Misalignment can also lead to several dental and general health issues. Crooked teeth can improve oral health, teeth functionality, and smile appearance.
- Difficulty cleaning: Misaligned teeth can create hard-to-reach areas, making it hard to brush and floss. This can increase the risk of plaque buildup, leading to tooth decay, gum disease, and infections.
- Chewing and digestion issues: Crooked teeth affect one’s ability to chew food efficiently, which can lead to potential digestion problems.
- Problems speaking: Misaligned teeth can affect how you form certain words and sounds. This can lead to speech problems.
- Worn-down teeth: Teeth that are out of alignment can wear down faster. Certain teeth are even subjected to pressure. Over time, worn-down teeth can lead to additional problems such as TMJ disorders, chewing issues, and tooth loss.
- Higher risk of injury: Any tooth out of alignment is at higher risk of damage.
- Low self-esteem: People with crooked teeth may have confidence issues during social interactions because they do not like the appearance of their smile.
Treating Crooked Teeth in Glyndon, MD
Befre treatment, Dr. Romay and Dr. Cross will create a personalized treatment plan to consider your budget, goals, and oral health needs. Learn more about the treatments we offer below:
Dental Bonding
During tooth bonding treatment, we use composite resin to cover enamel and change the size and shape of teeth. The bonding material blends in with natural teeth for an aesthetically pleasing end result.
Because tooth bonding is a less permanent treatment for crooked teeth, it is a great option for patients who do not want to commit to veneers or a more permanent dental treatment option.
Porcelain Veneers
Dental veneers are high-quality, ultra-thin porcelain. Veneers cover slightly crooked teeth for a straighter and more balanced appearance. As with dental bonding treatment, we color-match porcelain veneers to natural teeth. Porcelain veneers improve the look of crooked teeth and protect them from damage. To learn more about the dental veneer process, see Porcelain Veneers.
Crooked Teeth FAQS
Having crooked can be a detriment to your oral health. Learn more about them to fully understand why treating this orthodontic issue is important. Please read through the answers to our frequently asked questions regarding crooked teeth. If you have further questions, contact Baltimore Dental Co. today.
Are Crooked Teeth Common?
The majority of people have at least one crooked tooth. Both young people and adults are afflicted with crooked teeth. You shouldn’t feel pressured to get your teeth fixed if they’re crooked; however, it may improve their function and appearance.
Do Crooked Teeth Get Worse With Age?
As you age, the jaw bone loses density and begins to atrophy. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, this can cause teeth to cluster together or even overlap, causing oral and orthodontic health issues.
How Fast Do Braces Move Teeth?
In most cases, you should begin to see progress after about two months of braces treatment. You may begin to see results as early as four weeks after starting your treatment, however it usually takes a little longer for progress to be noticeable.
Can Crooked Teeth Affect Speaking?
Crooked teeth can potentially cause problems with speech. Speaking issues can arise from several conditions, including overbite, gapped teeth, and crowding.
Can Crooked Teeth Cause Pain?
A misaligned bite strains the jaw muscles, bones, and teeth, causing constant mouth pain. Gums are also under stress, which can cause them to bleed or become inflamed, causing pain.
Can Crooked Teeth Cause Bone Loss?
Cleaning your mouth may be difficult if your teeth are out of alignment. Plaque and bacteria have more places to hide where teeth are crowded and misaligned. Poor oral hygiene can cause tooth decay, bone loss, and gum recession.
What Problems Can Crooked Teeth Cause?
Crooked teeth can cause cracked teeth, jaw strain, TMJ, and chronic migraines. Misaligned teeth can also cause speech issues.
