If you’re someone who is looking for orthodontics in Weybridge, you are not alone. Few people are born with perfectly aligned teeth and at Weybridge Orthodontics in Surrey, we work hard to help you get the smile you’ve always wanted. But why do you have teeth that are crooked or overcrowded? Is there a mistake you’ve made, or something you should have done differently? Here, we address the reasons why orthodontic treatment might be needed. Read on to find out more…
Genetics
You might be glad to know that in most cases, the reason your teeth are not perfectly aligned is purely down to genetics. The size of your mouth, jaw and teeth are inherited from your parents, and there’s not much you can do about that!
As an example, you might have teeth that are more on the large side, but a small mouth. If this is the case, it is very likely that your teeth will either be crooked or overcrowded.
Although none of us can change genetics, effective orthodontic treatment from experts you can trust can help you to align your teeth in the best possible way. The earlier in life this is done the better, but we aim to give adults and those wanting orthodontic help in later life great results too – it’s just a matter of finding the right treatment for you and your circumstances.
Can your lifestyle be the cause for needing orthodontics in Weybridge?
There are some lifestyle influences that can cause the teeth to become crooked, so it’s worth considering if any of these could be hindering your or your children’s smiles.
Thumb sucking has long been thought to be a direct contributor to protruding teeth. This is especially the case if a child sucks their thumb beyond the baby and toddler years, and into later childhood. While there’s not much you can do if you did this yourself, you can discourage your own children from keeping up the habit!
Sometimes children develop the habit of breathing only through their mouth. If this is done often enough and for long enough, it can affect the development of the jaw – which can in turn result in misaligned teeth as they grow older.
When the tongue is stuck through the incisor teeth, this is known as a tongue thrust. Many people do it as babies, but if it continues past babyhood; repeated tongue thrusting can cause the teeth to be crooked.
Injury
Sustaining an injury can cause the teeth to be moved into a different position that forces them to protrude or become crooked. This could be due to playing sports or being in an accident. In some cases, tooth loss occurs. When missing teeth are not replaced, this can alter the position of the rest of the teeth – and cause them to become crooked or misaligned.
If your teeth aren’t as straight as you’d like them to be, it’s safe to say it’s unlikely to be your fault. The good news is, we can help you to fix them so that you can get the smile you deserve.