Many people dream of having the perfect smile: straight, white, glowing teeth. However, it’s incredibly common for people to develop crooked and twisted teeth from a very early age. At Ethos, we believe that all smiles are wonderful and full of happiness, but we understand that a lot of people can become insecure of their teeth. In this blog, we will get a better understanding of how teeth can become misaligned and the different ways of correcting them.
Common causes of crooked teeth
There are many different causes of crooked teeth and this varies among each and every individual. Some of these include:
- Poor habits. A direct cause of twisted and overlapping teeth can be from poor thumb-sucking habits in early years, or from tongue thrusting, whereby the tongue slowly changes the shape of your teeth.
- Jaw size. If your upper or lower jaw is smaller than average, you could develop issues with an over- or under-bite. The balance between tooth size and jaw size is very important. This is a genetic trait that can be inherited and affects people from an early age.
- Genetics. Along with inheriting a small jaw, you could also have developed crooked teeth if your family members have crooked or crowded mouths.
- Facial injury. Unfortunately, a serious face injury at any age can cause your teeth to become misaligned and misplaced.
The risks involved with misaligned teeth
If you have identified that you or a loved one has crooked teeth, you’ll want to know if there are any associated risks. Depending on the severity, you may have already noticed some of the negative impacts crooked teeth can have on your quality of life.
- Difficulty or discomfort when chewing. If your teeth are very twisted or crooked, it can begin to impact your ability to chew certain foods and even cause pain.
- Periodontal disease. The difficulty of cleaning thoroughly between twisted teeth increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, which can progress into periodontal disease if untreated.
- Speech difficulties. In some cases, crooked teeth can make it more difficult to pronounce certain sounds, which can affect speech ability and confidence.
- Self-esteem and happiness. If you feel insecure about your teeth, you may find yourself smiling less. Unfortunately, this has a significant effect on your overall happiness and confidence.
Ways to straighten your smile
It is a personal choice to decide whether or not to straighten your crooked teeth. Factors such as time, money, and preference are heavily considered in this decision.
It’s shown that not only can straightening your teeth improve your oral health, but also your happiness and quality-of-life. Ethos offers a range of different straightening treatments to suit different needs and budgets.
Braces
One of the most tried, tested, and trusted ways to straighten teeth is a braces treatment. This treatment involves a combination of brackets, bands, and wires that help realign teeth. There are many different types of braces, made from metal or ceramic.
Invisalign
In less severe cases of crooked and misaligned teeth, Invisalign is a great option. Patients can feel more confident even during their treatment with the clear aligner, which is discrete and effective. Invisalign acts similarly to a retainer, which the patient can easily remove and reinsert before and after eating.
Ethos lite
For the least complicated cases, we have a short-term treatment with powerful long-term effects. The ethos lite treatment can last between 6 – 9 months, at a reduced cost to more prolonged orthodontic treatment. To learn more about this service, and whether it is right for you, head over to our ethos lite service page.
Ethos is here to help
Our team is with you for every step of your orthodontic journey. Whether you are seeking assistance with improving your dental care routine or are experiencing discomfort, you should always reach out for advice. Contact us today to learn more.
