Crooked Teeth

Crooked teeth are teeth that don’t line up correctly in your mouth. They might be twisted, overlapping, growing in the wrong place, too close together or too far apart.

You might also hear crooked teeth referred to as wonky or misaligned teeth. But the official medical name is ‘malocclusion’. There are lots of things that can cause them, like sucking your thumb as a child, having more teeth than usual or a small jaw. Crooked teeth can sometimes make it difficult to clean your teeth, chew or speak properly.

If your crooked teeth aren’t causing you any problems, they might not need treatment. But if you’re unhappy with the way they look or they’re affecting your health, you might decide to have them straightened.

What causes crooked teeth?

There are lots of reasons why teeth grow crooked, including:

Genetics

It’s possible that your adult teeth might just come in crooked after you lose your baby teeth. You could also inherit crooked teeth from one of your parents if they also have them.

Gum disease

If you don’t take proper care of your teeth, you could develop gum disease. As gum disease gets worse, the bones that hold your teeth in place become weaker. This can cause your teeth to move, become loose, or even fall out.

Jaw size and shape

Over time, human jaws have evolved to become smaller than those of our ancestors. This means there might not be enough room in your mouth to fit all your teeth. Scientists believe it’s because the food we eat today is softer and more processed than the hard, raw diets of our predecessors that required much more chewing. As a result, crowded, crooked, and misaligned teeth are more common.

Tongue thrusting

If you push your tongue against your teeth when you swallow, instead of against the roof of your mouth, it can put pressure on your teeth and cause them to move over time.

Mouth breathing

If you breathe through your mouth instead of your nose, it can also increase the chance of your teeth becoming wonky.

An injury

If you get hit in the mouth, for example from playing sports or a car accident, it might cause your teeth to move position and become crooked.

Sucking your thumb or a dummy

If you’ve ever sucked your thumb for a long period of time, or you used a dummy (pacifier) as a child, it could cause your teeth to push outwards.

Losing a baby tooth too soon

If one of your baby teeth (milk teeth) falls out earlier than it’s supposed to, for example because of tooth decay or an injury, it leaves a gap that your other baby teeth begin to lean into. This crowds the space where your adult tooth then needs to grow into later.

Complications

Although crooked teeth can affect the way your smile looks, this isn’t usually a problem unless it starts to affect your self-esteem. But having wonky teeth can sometimes lead to other problems, such as:

Tooth decay

Misaligned teeth can make it more difficult to reach every area of your mouth and clean your teeth properly. Over time, bacteria can build up and lead to tooth decay or gum disease.

Damaged teeth

Crooked teeth can cause excess wear and tear on your gums, teeth and jaw, resulting in chipped or cracked teeth.

Aches and pains

Teeth that don’t align properly can put extra strain on your mouth, and lead to severe headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, or pain in your neck, jaw or shoulders.

Speech issues

When you talk, you move your tongue against your teeth and the roof of your mouth (palate). But crooked teeth can sometimes affect the way you speak, causing lisps or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds.

Trouble eating

Misaligned teeth can sometimes make it more difficult, or even painful, to chew properly. This can also have a knock-on effect on your digestion.

Low self-esteem

If you’re very unhappy with the way your teeth look, it may begin to affect your self-esteem. In some cases, you might even stop yourself from smiling, speaking or socialising in order to hide your teeth.