Are Crooked Teeth Genetic?
Updated on November 25, 2024
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Are Crooked Teeth Genetic?
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Genetics can contribute to factors that may lead to bad teeth. However, there are other factors like environmental influences, diet, and dental hygiene that can contribute to crooked or misaligned teeth.

Genetic studies revealed that the genes we inherit from our parents are responsible for our jaw size, dental arch, and number of teeth. Fossil records show that humans developed crooked or misaligned teeth over time. 

Anthropologists believe that our hunter-gatherer ancestors used to have nearly perfect teeth until diet changes caused the human jaw to shrink. 

Back then our ancestors needed to chew through tough meats and uncooked vegetables. Now our foods are much softer and require less chewing, which may have contributed to malocclusions over time.

Are Crooked Teeth Genetic? 2

Can You Inherit Crooked Teeth?

If your parents have misaligned teeth, you’re more likely to have misaligned teeth, too. Other genetics-related factors that cause crooked teeth in children include:

  • Abnormally large teeth
  • Having extra teeth
  • Misaligned jaws
  • Overbites or class 2 malocclusion 
  • Underbites or class 3 malocclusion 

However, while genetics cause crooked teeth, other factors also greatly influence teeth alignment. If you are genetically inclined to develop crooked teeth, you can improve your dental health through proper oral hygiene. 

Causes of Crooked Teeth

Aside from genetic factors, environmental factors can cause crooked teeth. Some habits and disorders can cause crowded teeth and underdeveloped jaws.

These include:

Mouth Breathing and Open Mouth Posture

Breathing through your mouth puts your tongue in an abnormal position. If you fail to correct it, prolonged mouth breathing leads to an undeveloped upper and lower jaw. 

This is because the tongue naturally rests against the roof of the mouth when breathing through your nose, which helps exert pressure to create an arch in the top of your mouth. Breathing through your mouth may make the roof of your mouth sit lower and affect how much space your teeth have to grow.

Similarly to mouth breathing, an open mouth posture places the tongue in an abnormal position. An open mouth posture will eventually cause teeth misalignment because of undeveloped jaws.

Prolonged Use of Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare says that pacifier use or thumb sucking in babies and young children is normal during the developmental stage. However, these habits should stop when the child turns three years old. 

Prolonged thumb or pacifier sucking puts force on the teeth and jaws. It can affect the teeth or jaw growth, leading to crooked teeth.

Tongue Ties

A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition where a baby’s frenulum is too short or tight. The frenulum is the tissue that anchors the tongue’s underside to the mouth’s bottom.

Children born with tongue ties have very limited tongue movement, which forces their tongue to have an abnormal posture, narrowing the palate. This results in very little space for teeth to grow.

Untreated tongue ties can, later on, cause problems like:

  • Periodontal disease or gum disease
  • Tooth decay
  • Teeth misalignment when permanent teeth develop

Tongue Thrusting 

Tongue thrusting happens when the lips push back and the tongue pushes forward. It is also called reverse swallowing because it usually happens when you swallow.

Tongue thrusting can cause dental problems in children. When kids lose their baby teeth and their adult teeth come in, the new teeth are sensitive to outside pressure.

The tongue is a strong muscle. When children consistently push their tongues against their front teeth, their teeth may shift. Over time, this can lead to an open bite.

Tooth Loss

Losing teeth can cause the remaining teeth to fill the vacant space. This can eventually result in crooked teeth. 

If you lose a tooth, visit a dentist immediately. They can provide appropriate treatment and prevent misalignment

Trauma or Injury

Trauma from physical violence, accidents, or injuries can lead to tooth loss. The forceful impact can alter jaw shape and cause teeth movement. In adults, injuries from contact sports are one of the most common causes of crooked teeth.

Tumors of the Mouth and Jaw 

Some forms of oral cancer cause the formation of tumors. Tumors found in the mouth and jaw cause crooked teeth. The space occupied by a tumor forces the teeth to move, which leads to misalignment problems.

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What are Some Problems Associated with Crooked Teeth?

Crooked teeth can make chewing hard and strain your jaw, increasing your likelihood of breaking a tooth. Additionally, crooked teeth are hard to clean, increasing your risk of developing dental caries. 

There could also be enamel-related problems because protruding teeth rub against other teeth and wear down the enamel. A thinner enamel generally weakens the tooth, making you more prone to pain and other dental problems. 

Furthermore, misaligned teeth increase the chance of bacteria hiding in gum pockets, which can cause gum disease. Studies say that untreated bacteria in the teeth or oral infection can go into the bloodstream, potentially causing life-threatening conditions such as stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.

What Should You Do About Crooked Teeth?

Various dental treatments are available to correct crooked or misaligned teeth. Metal braces have been used for a long time. 

However, most people nowadays opt for something less noticeable than the standard metal brackets. You can now opt for corrective devices like:

  • Dental veneers
  • Clear plastic aligners
  • Dental bonding

Aside from these, good oral hygiene is important for maintaining good oral health. Remember to floss and visit the dentist regularly. Talk to an orthodontist and discuss what will best work for you. 

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Updated on November 25, 2024
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8 sources cited
Updated on November 25, 2024
  1. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental influences on dental arch variation.” AIP Publishing.
  2. The genetic basis of dental anomalies and its relation to orthodontics.” European Journal of Dentistry.
  3. Mouth breathing: adverse effects on facial growth, health, academics, and behavior.” National Center for Biotechnology Information.
  4. Can Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking Affect My Child’s Teeth?” American Association of Orthodontists.
  5. A Patient’s Tongue May Be Causing Crooked Teeth.” Space Maintainers Laboratories.
  6. Oral Health and Swallowing Problems.” Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports.
  7. Systemic Diseases Caused by Oral Infection.” American Society for Microbiology.
  8. Before Agriculture, Human Jaws Were a Perfect Fit for Human Teeth.” Smithsonian Mag.
Ada Sandoval
Ada Sandoval
Content Contributor
Ada Sandoval is a B.S. in Nursing graduate and a registered nurse with a heart for abandoned animals. She works as a content writer who specializes in medical-related articles and pet health.