Calgary Dentist — So many people, from children to adults, suffer from crooked or misaligned teeth. Some don’t bother having them fixed because the crookedness is minimal and manageable while some people have them fixed or repaired because they have severely crooked teeth. It’s completely normal and common to not have perfectly straight teeth. You shouldn’t feel like you have to straighten them just to conform to beauty norms or standards. After all, having unique teeth can add to a person’s personality and charm.
At the end of the day, it depends on the person’s preference if they want to have their teeth fixed or not. For many people, a lot of the problems with crooked teeth lie only on appearance. However, did you know that crooked teeth actually have effects on oral health beyond appearance? Yes, that’s right. They can also cause some health or speech issues. Keep reading to find out the causes of crooked teeth, how they can affect one’s oral health, and the orthodontic treatments that can fix them.
Causes of Crooked Teeth — Calgary Dentist
Crooked or misaligned teeth can be caused by varying factors. It can be caused by mismanaged baby or primary teeth which results in permanent teeth coming in crooked. It is when trauma to the mouth or tooth decay causes baby teeth to fall out prematurely. When this happens, there is going to be excess gum space and baby teeth can sometimes move around the space, that’s why when permanent teeth erupt, they become slanted rather than straight. It also happens because of prolonged baby habits such as thumb sucking or sucking on a pacifier which pushes out baby teeth. And of course, there is also the contribution of heredity and genetics. This is why family or children’s dentistry is very important because the reason for crooked teeth is almost always because of neglected baby teeth. Below is a more concise list of issues affecting baby teeth that can also affect permanent teeth:
- Jaw size (modern diet has altered our collective jaw size)
- Poor myofunctional habits (such as thumb sucking, pacifier use, etc.)
- Malocclusion (misaligned jaw)
- Genetics and heredity
- Poor dental care
- Poor nutrition
- Facial injury (injury to the jaw, broken tooth, etc.)
Effects of Crooked Teeth on Oral Health — Calgary Dentist
Appearance-wise aside, there are so many other effects of crooked teeth on oral health. Some of them are so severe that they can even affect people’s quality of life. There are instances where the crookedness of teeth can even affect people’s ability to chew properly which makes it painful every time they eat. Consulting an affordable Calgary dentist when you experience these effects is very much encouraged. To reiterate properly, below are other oral health issues that are caused by crooked or misaligned teeth:
- Periodontal disease. If your crooked teeth are not allowing you to properly clean in between your teeth, the risk of tooth decay and gum disease is increased. Gum disease can lead to periodontitis if left untreated.
- Chewing and digestion. If you can’t chew properly because of your crooked teeth, you might experience digestion problems.
- Increased possibility of chronic halitosis. If your crooked teeth cause you to not be able to brush and floss efficiently, your chances of developing halitosis are increased.
- Excess wear. If your crooked teeth cause excessive wear and tear on your teeth, gums, and jaw, it can result in cracked teeth, strained jaw, TMJ disorder, and chronic headaches.
- Speech difficulties. Misaligned teeth can give you speech difficulties because it can affect the way you articulate sound.
- Self-esteem issues. People who have crooked teeth and who lack self-esteem because of it tend to sometimes avoid social interactions.
