6 Causes of Crooked Teeth in Children and How to Treat Them

Crooked teeth can mainly occur when the teeth in the kids’ mouth are larger than the available space in the jaw. When the teeth erupt, they follow the path of least resistance. If there is inadequate space for them to come in straight, they will become crooked. Read on to know more. 

6 Common Causes of Crooked Teeth in Children

  • Thumb Sucking

Thumb sucking is common until the ages of 2 – 4 years. However, if this continues past the ages of 6 and 7 years, the front teeth will be misaligned. Thumb sucking will push the front teeth forward and possibly create an open bite. It may also lead to narrowing of the upper jaw which may require jaw expansion plates or braces. 

  • Genetics

If the parents have crooked teeth, the genes may pass on to the kid. Crooked teeth will be prominent if the kid inherits a small jaw from one parent and large teeth from the other parent. The child may also inherit an overbite or underbite from the parents.

  • Tongue Thrusting

Tongue thrusting is when the tongue presses forward too far in the teeth. This habit results in an open bite as the pressure from the tongue thrust can make the front teeth move outward. 

If left untreated, tongue trust can lead to long-term damage to speech. It can also cause the tongue to protrude from between the teeth or elongate your kid’s facial shape. 

  • Tooth Decay 

The most common reason for tooth decay is due to the nursing bottle syndrome. If the tooth decay is ignored or left untreated, it can cause further damage that can result in crooked teeth. This is because the permanent teeth cannot be guided into their correct position.

  • Misaligned Jaw 

If the lower jaw juts out farther than the upper front teeth, the child will have an underbite. An overbite is when the upper front teeth protrude out farther than the lower front teeth. This misalignment in the jaw caused by an underbite and overbite may lead to crooked teeth in kids. 

  • Poor Dental Habits

Kids tend to put everything into their mouths. This habit can affect how the teeth erupt and develop, and it may cause crooked teeth. Wrong dental habits also include prolonged use of pacifiers, thumb sucking or prolonged bottle-feeding.

Treating Crooked Teeth

Early intervention of braces will help in treating crooked teeth. Don’t wait until your kid turns a teenager to fix their crooked teeth. Early orthodontic treatment will be beneficial. 

Consult with an orthodontist about the different techniques that can be used to fix crooked teeth. They might suggest braces to straighten teeth, spacers to stop overcrowding or a plate to guide jaw growth. The sooner you fix the crooked teeth, less extensive treatment will be required later to correct bite and jaw alignment.

Final Words

Getting braces treatment will help improve the child’s oral health. Not only will it straighten the crooked teeth but also help in correcting the bite and jaw movement. Make an appointment with an orthodontist soon if your kid has crooked teeth. 

Author Bio:

Sharon Williams’ day job is to handle digital marketing for Koch Orthodontics in Lawrenceville, GA. With a flair for creating compelling content that clears the clutter and connects with the audience in an instant, she writes about dental topics to educate and help her readers. She truly believes that a genuine smile can win a million hearts and talks to her readers about improving their smiles and overall dental health, as well as enhancing their overall lifestyle. In her free time, she likes to organize small meets in her neighborhood where she brings people together to discuss various topics that she writes about.

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