Crowded teeth, or more specifically malocclusion of the teeth as it is known in medical terms is the misalignment problem in teeth that can cause oral complications. Though malocclusion is hereditary, which means the problem is passed on to the next generations through the genes, other probable causes are also responsible for such misalignments – some of which have been discussed below:

Cleft lip
Cleft lip is a birth defect that affects the upper lip of the mouth and as a result, affects the face and appearance of an individual, which compels the parents to take their babies to a dentist. Drugs, toxins, and viruses are a common cause of cleft lip along with the genes that are passed down to the next generation. Cleft lip can lead to crowded teeth as the balance between the upper and the lower jaws get disturbed. As a result new teeth do not get enough space to grow, thus overlapping with other teeth and causing the overcrowding of teeth.

Childhood habits
Habits that are common in children like tongue thrusting, thumb sucking, using of pacifiers beyond the age of three, and the prolonged use of feeding bottles in babies are the contributing factors of crowded teeth.

Severe injuries
Severe injuries can result in the misalignment of teeth, leading to crowded teeth issues in an individual. It can fracture the jaw, which becomes irreversible even after surgery. Tumors in the jaw can also cause overcrowding of the teeth and results in a condition known as malocclusion.

Ill-fitting braces
If you think teeth braces and retainers can solve your problems or teeth misalignment, think twice. It is not always the ideal solution as ill-fitted braces can actually destroy the natural alignment of your teeth and can mar the entire appearance of your face. So before you opt for any dental corrections like dental crowning, dental fillings, or other dental appliances, make sure you do it from a reputed dental clinic that has years of experience and has good patient ratings when it comes to successful dental corrections. Maintaining proper oral care can also help you stay away from dental corrections like fillings and crowning.

Mouth breathing
Sometimes mouth breathing becomes necessary due to the blockage in the nasal passage. But prolonged mouth breathing can be a contributing factor to crowded teeth, because of the allergies entering the mouth or due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids.

Thus overcrowding of the teeth is caused when the upper and the lower jaw do not fit together. In a normal alignment, the upper teeth should fit snugly over the lower teeth. That is to say, the points of the molars should fit exactly onto the top of the opposite molars in the opposite jawline. Because of the overcrowding of the teeth, the teeth fail to perform vital functions such as biting. It also compromises with the normal speaking ability of the individuals, resulting in lisps that can be very frustrating at times. Intervention in the early stages can cure malocclusion of the teeth.