Crooked teeth

For a variety of reasons, you may have crooked or slanted teeth. Crooked teeth can be mild, where one or two teeth are slanted, or severe, where most of your teeth are misaligned.

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Can crooked teeth cause oral health problems?

One of the main reasons people choose to have crooked teeth straightened is because of their appearance. If you feel self-conscious about your smile because of crooked teeth, you may want to consider having them corrected.

The risk of oral health problems depends on how severe the problem is. Typically, people with crooked teeth will have some overlapping issues, making it difficult to brush and floss the teeth properly. Without proper oral hygiene, harmful bacteria can build up, causing tooth decay, gum disease and sometimes tooth pain.

Crooked teeth can also make it hard to eat and speak properly. When teeth don’t align properly, they can wear down your other teeth and cause strain in your jaw muscles. In the long term, this can result in TMJ disorder – a condition which causes jaw pain and sometimes chronic headaches.

What causes crooked teeth?

Crooked teeth can be caused by several factors, including:

If you have too much or too little space in your mouth for your teeth
Sucking a dummy or sucking your thumb for too long
If a baby tooth falls out too soon, the permanent tooth that replaces it can grow at an angle
Genetics: crooked teeth can be hereditary
Trauma to the mouth caused by a serious injury or accident

How can you fix crooked teeth?

Teeth straightening can help fix crooked teeth by gradually pushing them into the desired position. The length of treatment will depend on how complex your needs are – it could be as little as six months, or more than two years.