What Causes Crooked Teeth?

SHARE:
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Posted on 01/09/2019

Expert Braces Treatment in Corry, Erie & Lawrence Park, PA

At Doleski & Wolford Orthodontics, we are dedicated to providing exceptional orthodontic care through a wide range of services, including braces and Invisalign, to patients throughout Corry, Erie and Lawrence Park, PA. We know that our braces and Invisalign treatments can correct crooked, tight smiles, but what causes teeth to be crooked in the first place? Let’s take a look at a few main causes.


Jaw Development

The development of the jaw is one of the most important factors in how the smile develops. A straight dental arch and a wide palate must be present for straight teeth. For this to happen, the jaw and cranial bones must develop correctly. Your posture, eating, and breathing as a young child all affected your jaw development. Causes of crooked jaw and teeth can begin at a very young age, likely before most patients have their first orthodontic visit.


Lip & Tongue Posture

When at rest, the tongue should rest up against the palate, or upper jaw, and the lips should close due to facial muscles that hold them in place. For a straight smile to develop, all the muscles that connect to the jaw, base of the skull, spine, and throat should work properly. Low and forward tongue posture can affect how the lips close, causing issues such as flaccidity or lack of mentalis muscle strain. Poor tongue and lip posture leads to crooked teeth.


Oral Habits & Behaviors

Common early childhood habits such as thumb-sucking or using a pacifier can cause an open-bite, leading to crooked teeth. If you sucked your thumb or used a pacifier for a prolonged time as a baby, this likely played a role in the development of a crooked smile.


Corry, PA Invisalign & Braces For Straight Smiles

Fortunately, there are many orthodontic options available that correct and straighten crooked teeth. Drs. Doleski and Wolford and their friendly staff are committed to helping our patients throughout Erie, Corry and Lawrence Park, PA achieve and maintain straight, beautiful smiles through a variety of treatments including braces and Invisalign. If you have any questions about orthodontic treatment for correcting your smile, or if you’d like to discover how braces or Invisalign can help, we encourage you to contact us, or request an appointment. We can’t wait to give you the smile of your dreams!