More than a simple cosmetic flaw, crooked teeth come in various forms. Often associated with malocclusions – think an over or under bite – crooked teeth can be caused by more things than you may suspect – affecting both young and old.
Today, Alkali Dental Studios are bringing us their five things that cause crooked teeth:
- Genetics – like many of our characteristics, such as eye colour, facial features, etc, crooked teeth are often inherited. If your child is showing signs of misalignment in their jaw, seek a dental specialist for advice on getting braces – the earlier, the better.
- Tongue thrusting – in proper tongue posture, the tongue is placed up against the palate. If a child’s tongue, however, has a low or forward-directed tongue, then this could lead to crooked teeth. Make sure to observe your child – do they thrust when they speak? Do they have a speech impediment?
- Thumb-sucking – there are many habits that form during infancy that can develop into crooked teeth. Extensive thumb and pacifier-sucking may seem harmless but can often result in crooked teeth as they grow older due to the pressure on the oral structures.
- Bruxism – otherwise known as teeth grinding, the condition is very common, and many aren’t even aware they do it (you might even be doing it now!). It’s easily diagnosed and treated!
- Slouching – you may question this at first, but excessive slouching overtime, no matter the age, can lead to crooked teeth. Slouching forward to rest your chin on your hand or a hard surface can exert gentle pressure on your oral structures. Not only does it contribute to crooked teeth, but slouching can inform back pain, jaw pain, and headaches.
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