Many people aspire to have a straight smile, but teeth can become crooked for a variety of reasons. Your teeth might have gaps between them, or they could overlap one another. Not only might misaligned teeth disrupt your smile’s appearance, but they could also negatively impact your dental health.
Your dentist can evaluate your smile and offer cosmetic dental solutions like bonding or Invisalign to straighten your teeth. A severe malocclusion might require orthodontic treatment though.
You might prevent the need for this treatment in you or your child when you know more about what causes dental alignment issues in the first place. Read on to learn about three reasons you might form crooked teeth that could require dental attention to amend.
Genetics
Did you know that you can inherit crooked teeth? Genetics can influence many factors related to dental alignment. Teeth placement and jaw size and shape can all be determined by hereditary factors.
If you have a family member with crooked teeth, then you might develop them as well. In these cases, a dentist can identify misaligned teeth with an early evaluation and then offer swift treatment.
For this reason, you should attend regular check-ups at your dentist’s office and get routine x-ray imaging that monitors tooth growth. This can reduce negative side effects of dental misalignment, preventing further damage to your teeth.
Childhood Oral Habits
The teeth and their positionings will develop their foundation during childhood. So the oral health and habits of children can play a major role in their long-term oral health, including their dental alignment.
Behaviors like nail biting, tongue thrusting, and thumb sucking can tug at the teeth and pull them into a crooked position. Once this occurs, they will need intervention from a dentist to gently push them back into place. Invisalign aligners can accomplish this in the event of minor dental alignment problems.
Underlying Dental Problems
Underlying dental concerns can cause the teeth to become crooked in patients of any age. For instance, gum disease, a common type of infection in the gum tissue, can deteriorate the gums, teeth, and jaw to the point that teeth shift out of their straight positions.
If you experience tooth loss due to serious dental damage or an accidental injury, this can affect the alignment of the remaining teeth. The teeth may move to fill the empty space, which can result in a crooked smile.
While some factors, like genetics, are unavoidable, you can prevent crooked teeth by reducing your risk for certain dental issues. You can fight gum disease with good oral hygiene practices at home and at your dentist’s office. If you do lose one or more teeth, replace them with reliable restorative treatment from your dentist.
Seek preventive care from your dentist to identify potential issues quickly so that you can treat them before they cause irreversible harm. A professional dental cleaning will also maximize oral hygiene to keep your teeth strong as well. Give your dentist a call to schedule a dental check-up today.