Why Are My Child’s Baby Teeth Coming In Crooked? What You Should Know

Most kids will get their first tooth when they’re about 1 year old, and they’ll have all 24 of their baby teeth when they’re about 3 years old. 

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If you’re a new parent and your child is teething, though, you may be concerned if their baby teeth look crooked. Is this a big deal? Does it mean something’s wrong? Should you do anything about crooked baby teeth? Find out now in this blog from Willow Pediatric Dentistry.

Does It Matter If My Child’s Baby Teeth Are Crooked? Usually, No! 

Let’s start with some good news. In most cases, it doesn’t matter if your child’s baby teeth are a little bit crooked as they grow in. There are lots of reasons that this can happen, and it’s typically not a cause for concern.

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As your child grows and gets older, their mouth and jaw will change a lot. Huge changes happen to your child’s mouth in their first 3-6 years of life. These will usually alter the position of their baby teeth, and they will straighten out over time. And, in most cases, the permanent teeth will grow just fine even if some of your child’s baby teeth are crooked or are crowded.

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So if your child has a few crooked teeth right now, don’t worry too much. It’s best to speak to a dentist like Dr. Sam about this issue, and adopt a “wait and see” approach. With regular six-month appointments at Willow Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Sam can track your child’s oral development and make sure everything is on track.

Why Would Baby Teeth Come In Crooked? Common Contributing Factors

There are a few different things that can cause the baby teeth to come in crooked, so let’s take a look at them now. 

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• Genetics – This is, by far, the most common reason baby teeth may become crooked or misaligned. For example, if the mother has a small mouth and the father has large teeth, these may combine in a child to cause crowded teeth, which could result in misaligned baby teeth.
  
  
• Tongue thrusting – Tongue thrusting is an improper swallow where the tongue presses too far into the mouth. It can affect your child’s bite and also “push” their baby teeth forward, causing them to become misaligned and causing what’s known as an “open bite” where the front teeth don’t meet when the mouth is fully closed.
  
  
• Extra teeth – This is rare, but an extra tooth (called a “mesiodens” tooth) can develop in about 1% of the population, usually between the two top front teeth. This can cause developmental issues with the other teeth, so this tooth must usually be extracted. 
  

Got Questions? Get A Consultation For Your Child At Willow Pediatric Dentistry! 

Most of the time, crooked baby teeth are not a big deal. But it’s still a good idea to see an experienced pediatric dentist to make sure your child’s mouth is healthy, so contact Willow Pediatric Dentistry online or call us at (949) 966-0669 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sam now!