What Causes Crowding Teeth?
When your adult teeth erupt as a child, rather than growing into their correct position in the mouth, if there is not enough room, they will come up in an unnatural way, competing with the other teeth around them. This is called dental crowding. In simple terms, dental crowding happens when your teeth do not have enough space in your mouth, causing them to come in twisted and disordered. Dental crowding can be orthodontically corrected. The orthodontist will create extra space in the mouth, most commonly by removing extra or unnecessary teeth, and once that space is created, braces are put on to align the teeth, correct the crowding, and prevent further oral issues.
What Causes Dental Crowding?
There are many factors that can cause dental crowding, with the leading factor being genetics. Some factors may cause misalignment of one or a few teeth, while others may cause the entire row of teeth to come in improperly. Those factors include, but are not limited to:
- Genetics: The basic framework of our dental structure, such as jaw size and tooth size, is most often determined by our genes. Someone who is born with a small jaw may not be able to accommodate all of the teeth that come in as a child.
- Early loss of baby teeth: Teeth commonly fall out on a schedule, depending on age. If a baby’s teeth fall out too soon, there may not be space for the permanent teeth to come in. If a baby’s teeth fall out at the right time, the permanent teeth can come in shortly after in an orderly process. If a baby’s tooth falls out too soon before the permanent, or adult tooth, is ready to come in, the surrounding baby teeth may start to shift. Over time, when the adult teeth start to erupt, there is less room for them to come in.
- Abnormally large teeth: Bigger teeth might not always fit into the jaw well, which can make it harder for every tooth to have space. In that case, some teeth might come in behind others.
Common Signs of Dental Crowding
If you believe you may have crowded teeth, ask yourself the following:
- Do you feel discomfort when biting down?
- Do you notice any teeth that are positioned at an unusual angle in your mouth?
- Do you notice any teeth overlapping each other?
- Do you have a crossbite (upper row of teeth sit inside the lower row when biting down)?
- Do you have excessive overbite (also known as “buck teeth,” where the top teeth protrude outwards, creating a larger-than-normal gap between the bottom row of teeth)?
- Are you experiencing any jaw pain?
- Do you have trouble biting or chewing?
- Do you feel pain or find it difficult to brush or floss?
- Do your gums bleed when you floss?
Problems Resulting from Dental Crowding
It is very important to treat crowded teeth to prevent further oral health issues. When teeth are crowded, it can be very hard to keep them clean. This can cause bacteria and plaque buildup, which can lead to further oral health issues. Some common problems resulting from dental crowding include, but are not limited to: cavities, dental disease, tooth or jaw aches, troubling chewing or biting, and Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).
If you are struggling with dental crowding, contact your dentist or orthodontist for their expert opinion so you no longer have to live with this condition.
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