Crooked teeth are one of parents’ worst enemies. Malocclusion can cause several dental problems down the road, which is why parents often opt for fixing their kid’s teeth early on with treatments like braces or Invisalign in Nashville.

However, what many don’t know is that crooked teeth are preventable to a certain extent. Bad habits and a lack of oral hygiene can make your kid’s teeth crooked and in need of orthodontic treatment. To prevent that, here’s a list of things that can cause tooth misalignment.

Why Do We Have Crooked Teeth?

Teeth are unique to a person, just like their eye color or facial structure. Some people have bigger teeth, others have brighter teeth, and some have crooked teeth. This last one is very common, among both children and adults.

When a kid is young, their teeth can become crooked due to genetics, or they can become crooked over time. Some negative habits, like thumb sucking, can push teeth, leading them to shift over time. The problem emerges when this causes bite misalignments and increases their chances of getting cavities.

More factors that influence a person’s tooth alignment are:

Jaw Size

If you were to compare an actual human’s jaw with a prehistoric one, you would notice that it has become significantly smaller. Nowadays, people’s diet is made mainly of soft, processed food, and cooked meals, which are easier to chew than foods our ancestors ate, like raw meat and vegetables.

Scientists suspect that this change made our collective jaw size smaller. But because of that, there’s less space for our teeth, making them crowded.

Genetics

Genetics also plays an important role in misalignments. Jaw size and shape are hereditary conditions, just like over or underbites, crooked teeth, and problems during tooth development.

If someone in the family suffers from any of these, there’s a possibility that they will be passed down to your children.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Most oral problems stem from poor oral health. In this case, not brushing and flossing regularly can give you severe gum disease, which can cause your teeth to loosen, shift, or even fall out.
The same goes with cavities. If a kid’s primary teeth fall out before time due to decay, their next set of teeth can emerge crooked.

Early Primary Tooth Loss

As we mentioned, losing a primary tooth before time can cause crooked teeth. That’s because the other teeth will shift into the area of loss. When the permanent tooth comes in, it would have to try to fit in an already crowded space, leading to misalignments.

Late Primary Tooth Loss

The same way, late baby tooth loss can make permanent teeth become crooked.  

In extreme cases, the primary tooth blocks a permanent tooth, forcing it to pop in the wrong spot. This can cause kids to have two rows of teeth, a condition known as shark teeth.

Thumb Sucking

If you had the habit of sucking your thumb as a child, your teeth may be crooked. Thumb sucking exerts constant pressure on developing teeth, forcing them to move from their natural position.  

The result of this could be malocclusion, which is an improper fit between the upper and lower teeth.

Tongue Thrusting

Your tongue should press against the roof of your mouth when you swallow. However, some children press their tongue on their front teeth, a practice called tongue thrusting.

Similarly to thumb sucking, this habit can result in crooked teeth over time.

Malnutrition

It is critical for a kid’s health that they have enough nutrients to foster their body's muscle, bone, and tissue growth. Lack of these nutrients stunts their tooth development, as the body can’t facilitate tooth growth properly.

This can slow down a kid’s primary and permanent teeth’s appearance, leading to the consequences we already explained.  

Additionally, malnutrition weakens your teeth, leaving them more susceptible to gum disease and decay.

Mouth Breathing

Another bad habit in children is mouth breathing. Kids with regular breathing patterns keep their mouth closed, creating a sealed oral space, and their tongue is positioned properly, in contact with the palate.  

This guarantees that the muscles of the tongue, lips, and cheek are balanced, which is essential for the growth of a healthy upper dental arch. Muscle imbalance brought on by mouth breathing can result in malocclusion.

Mouth breathing can also change the saliva's pH, which lessens some of its antibacterial properties. This makes children more susceptible to tooth decay

Facial Trauma

Sports-related injuries and other mishaps may result in misaligned teeth. A blow to the face or mouth can dislodge teeth, leading to one or more crooked teeth.

What Can You Do to Fix Misaligned Teeth?

As you can see, good oral hygiene, avoiding certain habits, and ensuring a good diet are the three pillars of preventing misaligned teeth. However, in some cases, crooked teeth are inevitable.

When that happens, a pediatric dentist can realign your kid’s teeth with the following devices.

Braces

Braces are probably the most popular way of fixing crooked teeth. They consist of metal brackets attached to the teeth, with wires connecting them. By applying pressure to the teeth, they can gradually straighten and align them until the bite is corrected.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners, like Invisalign®, are a modern, more discreet alternative to braces. They function as a transparent mouthguard that you wear on your teeth and replace on a regular basis to help realign your teeth.

Unlike braces, Invisalign aligners are removable. Every set of aligners is typically worn for one to three weeks, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. It may take up to nine months or more to complete the entire set of aligners.

Get Braces or Invisalign in Nashville

Orthodontic treatments have a bad reputation. Braces and Invisalign can be uncomfortable, but their benefits surpass their downsides. Bite problems can cause TMJ disorder and migraines, while crooked teeth are harder to clean and more likely to cause tooth decay.  

Whatever you believe is best for your children, here at Happy Harpeth, we’ll be ready to walk alongside you all the way. If you have any remaining questions, don’t be afraid to reach out!

*Invisalign®, the Invisalign logo, and iTero®, among others, are trademarks and/ or service marks of Align Technology, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries or affiliated companies and may be registered in the U.S. and/or other countries.