Skip to content
  • Blog
  • (410) 267-7300
Complimentary Consult
  • Our Practice
    • About us
    • What Sets Us Apart
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Meet the Team
    • Our Technology
    • Serving Our Community
    • Office Tours
    • Join Our Team
    • Patient Reviews
  • Orthodontics
        • Braces
          • Types of Braces
          • Braces For Kids
          • Braces For Teens
          • Braces For Adults
          • Braces FAQ
        • Invisalign
          • What Is Invisalign?
          • Invisalign For Kids
          • Invisalign For Teens
          • Invisalign For Adults
          • Invisalign FAQ
        • Other Services
          • Early Orthodontic Treatment
          • Dental Monitoring
          • Surgical Orthodontics
        • Resources
          • Orthodontics Articles
          • Instructional Videos
          • Appliance Instructions
          • Clean Routine
          • Orthodontics FAQ
          • Emergency Care
Logo
Labbe Logo
  • Patient Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Financial Information
    • Referrals
    • Patient Rewards
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Complimentary Consult
  • Patient Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Financial Information
    • Referrals
    • Patient Rewards
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Complimentary Consult
Labbe Family Orthodontics logo in gray and cerulean
Labbe Family Orthodontics logo in white
Main Menu
  • Our Practice
    • About us
    • What Sets Us Apart
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Meet Our Team
    • Our Technology
    • Serving Our Community
    • Office Tours
    • Join Our Team
    • Patient Reviews
  • Orthodontics
    • Braces
      • Types of Braces
      • Braces For Kids
      • Braces For Teens
      • Braces For Adults
      • Braces FAQ
    • Invisalign
      • What Is Invisalign?
      • Invisalign For Kids
      • Invisalign For Teens
      • Invisalign For Adults
      • Invisalign FAQ
    • Other Services
      • Early Orthodontic Treatment
      • Dental Monitoring
      • Surgical Orthodontics
    • Resources
      • Orthodontics Articles
      • Instructional Videos
      • Appliance Instructions
      • Clean Routine
      • Orthodontics FAQ
      • Emergency Care
  • Patient Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Financial Information
    • Referrals
    • Patient Rewards
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • (410) 267-7300
  • Blog
  • Complimentary Consult
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Yelp

Why in the World Do Teeth Grow in Crooked?

Life Is Better With a Smile

woman smiling
  • Labbe Family Orthodontics
  • July 31, 2018

Most people wish they were born with perfectly straight teeth. Sadly, few are. The majority of people have some form of overcrowding or misalignment, and most of them have visited their nearest orthodontist to improve the look of their smile.

But, why? What causes crooked teeth in adults? Can you prevent adult teeth from developing misalignments? Are crooked teeth genetic? Here are a few basic facts about oral health and some tips on how to prevent crooked teeth.

Genetics

Having crooked teeth runs in families. That’s because genetics can affect:

• The size of the jaw: If people have small jaws, their teeth will compete for space inside the mouth. As a result, they begin to overlap, resulting in noticeably crooked teeth. If the jaw is too large, the teeth may not fill the entire mouth. The resulting gaps can cause teeth to shift position.

• The size of the teeth: Some teeth are bigger than others. Those born with oversized teeth may experience greater crowding while those with smaller teeth may notice gaps in their mouth.

• The number of teeth: The average adult has 28 teeth, but some have as many as 32, depending on whether the wisdom teeth are present. Unfortunately, wisdom teeth erupting can overcrowd the mouth and move the teeth alignment – one of the main reasons dentists and orthodontists encourage wisdom teeth removal.

Bright Smile Tip!

People can’t change their genes, but they can visit an orthodontist, who can come up with strategies for clearing space, closing gaps, and aligning teeth. The most common method for correcting overcrowding is to straighten adult teeth with braces.

Premature Loss of Baby Teeth

Babies get their first teeth between the ages of six months and one year. Called primary teeth, they’re space holders for the bigger, permanent set of teeth that will grow in when a child is about three years old.

If a primary tooth falls out early, either because of injury, decay, or natural loss, the other teeth may shift in order to fill the empty space. When the permanent tooth does replace the baby tooth, it may move from its normal position and grow in crooked.

Bright Smile Tip!

If a primary tooth falls out early, an orthodontist can insert a device called a space maintainer, which fills the spot left by the lost tooth to ensure that the permanent tooth grows in with proper alignment.

In some cases, it’s best to wait until the permanent teeth replace the baby teeth and then rely on braces to fix the problem. Either way, it’s good for parents to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist as early as possible, preferably before all of their child’s permanent teeth develop, or, at the very least, before they fall out.

Bad Habits

Genes and luck account for most cases of crooked teeth, but behavior is also to blame. If children suck their thumbs, breathe through their mouths, grind their teeth, or press their tongues against their mouths, they may move their teeth out of alignment.

Bright Smile Tip!

On the bright side, it’s fairly easy to correct the bad habits that lead to crooked teeth. It’s important to avoid bad habits while the adult teeth are growing in. They haven’t yet settled into position, which makes them more susceptible to pressure.

Life Is Better with a Smile!

Preventing and correcting crooked teeth takes time and a good plan, but, with the help of a great orthodontist, it’s easy to do.

The best orthodontists not only use the latest tools and techniques, they take the time to examine each patient carefully. They want to know why someone’s teeth are misaligned and how they’re likely to develop over time.

As soon as the orthodontist identifies the underlying causes, he or she can create a personalized strategy that addresses a patient’s specific problems, whether that includes traditional braces, Invisalign, retainers, or space maintainers.

At Labbe Family Orthodontics, we go a step further. We treat each of our patients like family. Schedule an appointment today to find out why so many people leave our office flashing a great big, beautiful smile!

Labbe Team
Get Started Today
Get started today

Today’s a great day to learn more about orthodontic care and how we can help you change your life by changing your smile.

Complimentary Consult
AAO
ADA
ABO
DIP
Dental Socity
MSDA
MASO
what to expect
Our 5-Star Experience

Hear what our patients are saying about their experience with our doctors and team. We can’t wait to provide you with the same level of care!

Smilling Girl
Tyler S.
I really like this place the braces have acually worked unlike other places and the community is fun to be around
Uyen J.
Great office, everyone is super friendly. Convenient for kids coming directly from school, they provide space for them to brush/rinse before their appointment.
Brenda P.
Thank you, Dr. Miller and the entire team, for your outstanding care and professionalism. I truly appreciate the kindness, patience, and expert treatment you provide every visit—it makes a world of difference!
Shannon W.
Absolutely amazing staff and doctors! They have been amazingly professional each time we visit. I truly wish this could be our permanent dentist. We couldn’t have had a better experience for my daughter’s braces from beginning to end. I would refer them to anyone who is looking to get braces whether adults or children. Just an overall wonderful experience. Truly hard to find experiences like this!
Jason M.
Wonderful practice. My son looks forward to the visits. Very warm, welcoming and family oriented.
Nikki J.
Best Part!!! They care! Service: You will be in and out. All of the offices are ran like a well oiled machine. My smile will thank them forever.
John D.
Labbe Family Orthodontics is an outstanding office, with an exceptional team - from the friendly front office to the skilled orthodontists, everyone is always eager to assist and accommodate all patients. This goes without exception to Brittany, whose kindness goes above and beyond.

Highly recommend this office for anyone seeking top-notch orthodontic care!
Shannon T.
Labbe Family Orthodontics is a fantastic practice. They took their time and explained everything during our consultation. Tricia was incredibly helpful in explaining payment options and assisting us in determining what coverage we would have if we purchased a supplemental dental plan.
Dan H.
I never thought getting braces for our kids could be a joyful experience until we entered Labbe. We were blessed with an experience that pursued excellence while exhibiting amazing personal and relational care with an injection of authentic joy. Highly recommend!
Debbie S.
I love Labbe they are nice people and they take good care of you I would highly recommend
Read More
Smilling Girl
four convenient locations
Come visit us

Whether you visit our location in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, or Greenbelt, we offer all of the same orthodontic services. You will be treated with the same attention, experience, and high level of quality care. We look forward to serving you and your family soon!

Addresses
  • Annapolis
  • 114 Forbes St.
    Annapolis, MD 21401
  • Bowie
  • 4000 Mitchellville Rd. Suite 316
    Bowie, MD 20716
  • Crofton
  • 2630 Brandermill Blvd.
    Gambrills, MD 21054
  • Greenbelt
  • 7525 Greenway Center Dr. Suite 101
    Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone
  • (410) 267-7300
Office Hours
Monday8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday8:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday7:30am – 12:30pm
Addresses
  • Annapolis
  • 114 Forbes St.
    Annapolis, MD 21401
  • Bowie
  • 4000 Mitchellville Rd. Suite 316
    Bowie, MD 20716
  • Crofton
  • 2630 Brandermill Blvd.
    Gambrills, MD 21054
  • Greenbelt
  • 7525 Greenway Center Dr. Suite 101
    Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone
  • (410) 267-7300
Office Hours
Monday8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday8:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday7:30am – 12:30pm
Labbe Orthodontics
Footer Logo
Labbe Logo
Complimentary Consult
Quick Links
  • Our Practice
  • Orthodontics
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Our Practice
  • Orthodontics
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact Us
Locations
  • Annapolis
  • Bowie
  • Crofton
  • Greenbelt
Contact Us
  • (410) 267-7300
Complimentary Consult

© 2025 Labbe Family Orthodontics | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Accessibility