What does crooked teeth mean

Dealing with crooked teeth can make you feel self-conscious and turn your smile into a frown. If you have crooked teeth, you need to be aware that there are a number of other health-related problems this condition can present besides an uneven smile. Read on to discover 10 dangers that come with having crooked teeth so you can take steps to get the problem corrected.

Your smile and your body will thank you for it! When plaque builds up in between teeth, it causes harmful bacteria to multiply. The same thing applies to your toothbrush, which means you could have a tough time trying to keep your oral hygiene in check. If your bottom teeth are crowded, one or more of them could protrude and rub against your upper teeth. If the crooked teeth problem runs down in the family, the children are likely to have crooked permanent teeth too despite following good oral care habits.

Facial Injury — Facial trauma, such as a jaw injury in childhood, can result in displaced teeth or misaligned bites. The reason is the jaw shifting slightly from its original position, which causes the teeth to grow in crooked. Facial injuries may also result in tooth loss.

And when there is open space in a jaw, the rest of the teeth tend to shift to cover that space. Over time, poor oral health or dental health results in bad breath, plaque, tooth decay, and eventually, gum disease.

The initial stage of gum disease is called gingivitis when the gums feel itchy, irritated, and swollen. Bleeding gums is another symptom of gum disease. But if gingivitis is left untreated, it leads to periodontitis in which the problem travels to the bone and results in bone and tooth loss. Wear and Tear — Misaligned teeth are more prone to wear and tear. In many cases, excessive wear and tear lead to TMJ disorder or Temporomandibular Jaw disorder in which the patients experience extreme pain or even locking of the jaw bone on movement.

Difficulty Chewing — Crooked or crowded teeth make chewing difficult, which can lead to digestion problems. Speech Difficulty — Speech difficulties, such as problem pronouncing a few words, is the most common effect of crooked teeth. Low Self Esteem — People with crooked teeth or misaligned teeth face the problem of low self-esteem; after all, our smile reflects our personality.

Moreover, poor dental health can result in stained teeth that look unappealing and make people feel embarrassed. Children's Privacy Policy.

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Learn more about our commitment to oral health education. What Causes Crooked Teeth? Top Articles. Misaligned teeth can have a variety of causes, including: Genetics Crooked teeth can be genetic. Crowding, jaw size, jaw shape, having too many teeth hyperdontia , overbites, underbites, and poor tooth or palate development are some of the conditions that can be passed down in your family.

Poor Oral Hygiene If you don't practice good oral hygiene, you could get gingivitis the early stages of gum disease. According to the Journal of Dental Research , nearly half of adults over 30 in the US have some form of gum disease.

Left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis. This more severe form of gum disease can cause your teeth to loosen, shift, or even fall out.

Early baby tooth loss If you lost a baby tooth early when you were a child, it could have allowed other teeth to shift into the area of loss, crowding the area where a permanent tooth would eventually come in. Thumb sucking If you were in the habit of sucking on your thumb or toys, etc. Tongue thrusting When you swallow, your tongue is supposed to press against the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth.

If you press your tongue on your teeth instead, that's called tongue thrusting. If a primary tooth falls out early, either because of injury, decay, or natural loss, the other teeth may shift in order to fill the empty space.

When the permanent tooth does replace the baby tooth, it may move from its normal position and grow in crooked. If a primary tooth falls out early, an orthodontist can insert a device called a space maintainer, which fills the spot left by the lost tooth to ensure that the permanent tooth grows in with proper alignment.

Genes and luck account for most cases of crooked teeth, but behavior is also to blame. If children suck their thumbs, breathe through their mouths, grind their teeth, or press their tongues against their mouths, they may move their teeth out of alignment. The best orthodontists not only use the latest tools and techniques, they take the time to examine each patient carefully. At Labbe Family Orthodontics, we go a step further.