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Crooked teeth are a problem many people face. Some estimates suggest that as many as 90% of people have some kind of misalignment. Crooked teeth may come hand-in-hand with overcrowding or gaps. Your teeth may stick out, and your bite may not align when your mouth is closed. 

Alignment problems may affect the appearance of your smile. But they are more than an aesthetic issue. If your teeth aren’t straight, it can also affect your smile’s health and your general well-being, too. 

So, what causes crooked teeth, and how do we straighten them?

In this guide, we’ll examine why your teeth aren’t straight and what you can do about it. 

What Causes Crooked Teeth?

Several factors contribute to crooked teeth, and the exact cause is often hard to determine. 

Genetics

If your parents and other family members have crooked teeth, you may face the same issue. Just like many of your facial features are inherited, the shape of your jaw is, too. 

Jaw Size

Sometimes, a jaw is too small to hold all your teeth in a straight line. This can lead to crowding, and teeth may become crooked or pushed inwards or outwards. 

Habits In Early Childhood

If you sucked on a dummy or your thumb too much as a child, it could affect the formation of your jaw and teeth. Tongue thrusting and mouth breathing can cause similar problems. 

Injury

Injury to your teeth or jaw could leave them crooked. This may affect individual teeth or several. 

Untreated Dental Problems

Missing teeth, tooth decay, and gum disease are all problems that could alter the position of your teeth. The best way to avoid lasting issues is to visit us for regular checkups and receive treatment for dental problems. 

What Problems Can Crooked Teeth Cause?

Although your motivation for seeking treatment to straighten your teeth may be cosmetic, crooked teeth can cause several health problems. 

Excessive or Uneven Wear

If your teeth are crooked, their surfaces may become excessively worn from rubbing against each other. This leads to thinning of your dental enamel, causing sensitivity and an increased risk of tooth decay. 

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

In addition to excessive wear and tear, the position of your teeth makes brushing them difficult. Bacteria can build up on the surfaces your brush can’t reach, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. 

Speech Problems

More severe issues with the position of your teeth can affect your ability to form certain sounds and words. 

Difficulty Chewing

The alignment of your teeth significantly affects your ability to bite and chew. If you cannot break your food down properly, this can cause digestion problems. 

Confidence

If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your smile, it can make you feel self-conscious. Feeling dissatisfied with how you look can be a factor in depression and anxiety. 

How Do We Straighten Teeth?

We use Invisalign to straighten teeth. This is a clear removable aligner system. The discreet aligners fit over your teeth and create a gentle force. Wearing your aligner for 22 hours a day will slowly move your teeth into their desired position. 

During your treatment, you’ll change your aligner every two weeks. Each aligner is custom-made for your teeth and is designed to make very slight changes. Over time, these changes add up and make a big difference. 

Before you get your first aligner, we’ll take scans of your teeth. We use advanced dental software to map out your treatment, and we can predict the step-by-step journey your teeth will take to their new position. 

Everyone is unique, and the duration of your treatment will depend on how far we need to move your teeth along with other factors like your age and health. Treatment lengths vary from six months to two years. 

You can remove your aligner to eat and drink, and it’s comfortable enough to wear all the time —even while you sleep. Being clear means it’s barely visible when it’s being worn. 

Invisalign at NuDental

If you have crooked teeth, it can impact your health. Thankfully, teeth straightening is easy. Invisalign is subtle, convenient, and effective at treating mild to moderate problems with the position of your teeth. 

Get in touch today and schedule a consultation.