Having straight teeth is vital. Not just so that you can chew your food easier, but your appearance can take an instant hit if you have crooked teeth.
We all know that our teeth aren’t going to remain perfectly straight and perfectly healthy forever, but are you aware of how your teeth can become crooked and what you can do about it?
Don’t worry if you didn’t know; we’re here to help you.
Read on for everything you need to learn why teeth become crooked and how to prevent it.
The Common Causes of Crooked Teeth
There are a few reasons why teeth can become crooked. Here are some of the reasons why.
Genetics
There are many reasons teeth can become crooked, but genetics are the most common. If you have family members with crooked teeth, chances are you may also have crooked teeth.
Thumb Sucking
The most common reason teeth become crooked is due to thumb sucking. When children suck their thumbs, the top and bottom teeth can become misaligned. This is because the thumb puts pressure on the teeth and jaw, which can cause them to shift over time.
A Bad Bite
Another cause of crooked teeth is a bad bite, which means that your teeth do not come together correctly when you bite down. This can be caused by a number of things, such as missing teeth or poorly positioned teeth.
Teeth Grinding
There are many reasons teeth can become crooked, overcrowded, or misaligned, but a common cause is grinding or clenching your teeth. This can happen unconsciously during the day or night, and over time it can damage your teeth and lead to other oral health problems.
Misaligned Jaws
Teeth can also become crooked due to misaligned jaws. When the top and bottom jaws are not in alignment, it puts undue pressure on the teeth and forces them out of alignment.
Preventing Crooked Teeth
Now that you know why teeth can become crooked, you must understand how to prevent them. Here are some tips on how to avoid crooked teeth:
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
To prevent your teeth from becoming crooked, you should visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. This way, your dentist will be able to see the early signs of misaligned teeth and prevent them before it becomes worse.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Various things can cause crooked teeth, but the most common cause is improper oral hygiene. When teeth are not brushed and flossed properly, plaque and tartar can build up on the teeth and cause them to become crooked.
That’s why it’s important to practice good oral hygiene. This includes brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash on a regular basis.
Wear Braces or Mouthguards
One way to prevent crooked teeth is to wear braces or mouthguards if necessary. This will help your teeth grow properly by slowly pushing them in the right place and holding them there.
You will need to ask your dentist before proceeding with this kind of treatment, for if done incorrectly, this procedure could further damage your teeth. If your dentist says you need braces, you could ask them if they have Invisalign. You could have a look here if you’re interested.
Avoid Teeth Damaging Habits
You can prevent your teeth from becoming crooked when you avoid teeth-damaging habits. This includes things such as eating hard, sugary, and sticky foods, or smoking.
When you eat sugary and sticky foods, the sugar sticks to your teeth and causes them to become crooked. Hard foods could cause your jaw to exert more effort, and you could even lose some teeth in the process.
Nicotine is also highly damaging to your teeth. That’s why you should avoid smoking if you want to have aligned teeth.
Dental Surgery
If you have crooked teeth that can’t be fixed by the other less harsh treatments such as braces, you may need dental surgery to correct the problem. Look at dental surgery as the last option, for not only do dental surgeries cost a lot of money, but they can also be invasive.
Only agree to have dental surgery if your problems are severe and you want immediate relief regardless of the costs and the risks.
The Consequences of Crooked Teeth
The consequences of crooked teeth are more than just cosmetic. Though having crooked teeth would also lead you to become less confident and smile less often.
Crooked teeth can cause problems with eating. This is due to your jaw being misaligned, and you would not be able to open your mouth properly. It can also lead to gum disease and tooth decay because you will not be able to clean your teeth easily due to how they are aligned.
How to Live With Crooked Teeth
If you have crooked teeth, and for some reason, could not go to the dentist, there are still ways how to live with your misaligned smile.
First, it is obvious that having crooked teeth would destroy your confidence. It would affect your social life because you will be conscious of what your teeth would look like every time you open your mouth. Remember that even though your teeth may be crooked, you could still recover by being a smart and entertaining conversationalist.
If you’re also worried about tooth and gum problems, you could just exert extra care and effort to clean your teeth. Take supplements for healthier oral health, brush regularly, floss, and use mouthwash.
However, keep in mind that these are not permanent treatments. You still need to go to your dentist so that they will be able to correct your crooked teeth properly.
The Importance of Proper Oral Care
Over time, teeth can become crooked or crowded as a result of thumb sucking, teeth grinding, or simply due to the way the jaw grows. A few things can be done to prevent teeth from becoming crooked, such as wearing a mouthguard at night, avoiding hard foods that can damage the teeth, and of course, practicing good oral hygiene.
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