Why do teeth get crooked or crowded?
Either the jaw has too little room for the teeth, or something has moved them out of place.
The short answer
Teeth crowd or tilt when there is not enough room for them in the jaw, or when something moves them out of place. Jaw size and tooth size can run in families.
The American Association of Orthodontists says that as we get older, our teeth naturally shift, which can lead to crowding in the lower front teeth or gaps in the upper teeth.
The common causes
More than one can apply at once.
A jaw that is small for the teeth
Jaw size and tooth size can run in families, and a smaller jaw can end up with teeth that are too large to line up.
Baby teeth lost too early or too late
A baby tooth keeps space open for the adult tooth beneath it. The American Association of Orthodontists says losing baby teeth too early or too late can create problems with the permanent teeth replacing them.
Thumb-sucking and pacifiers
Long-lasting sucking habits may press on the front teeth and the roof of the mouth.
Tongue position and mouth breathing
The tongue, lips and cheeks all press on the teeth. Dentists look at where the tongue rests and pushes, and at breathing through the mouth, in a growing child.
Missing teeth in adults
When a tooth is lost and not replaced, the teeth beside and opposite it tilt or drift toward the gap.
Gum disease
When the bone that holds the teeth thins, teeth can loosen and move, sometimes noticeably, and spaces open between them.
Not wearing a retainer after braces
Teeth tend to move back toward where they were. A retainer holds them where they were placed.
Injury, extra teeth or impacted teeth
A blow to the mouth can move a tooth, and an extra or trapped tooth can push others out of line.
For children, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first check-up by age 7.
Does crooked or crowded matter?
For some people it is purely how the smile looks, and that is a reasonable reason to want it changed. For others it also makes cleaning harder, because overlapping teeth give plaque more places to hide. A dentist can tell you which applies to you.
Some causes run in families or begin in childhood. Others, such as missing teeth, gum disease and the natural shifting of teeth with age, develop in adulthood.
What can be done
The starting point is an exam, with x-rays and photographs or a scan, so the dentist can see where the crowding comes from. What suits you depends on that, and on your age.
Clear aligners are one option for many patients: clear, removable trays that move teeth a little at a time. The office offers Invisalign, ClearCorrect and in-house aligner options. The clear aligners page explains how treatment runs.
The office also offers myofunctional tooth alignment and airway growth therapy, and early orthodontic evaluations; the myofunctional therapy page explains how they differ from aligners.
Next step
If crowded or crooked teeth bother you, the first step is an exam. Call the office.