In past decades, people had all sorts of theories about what causes crooked teeth. During the 1940’s, some medical schools taught that mixing two races resulted in teeth problems, an odd theory that was later proven to be completely wrong. If you have ever wondered why some people have crooked teeth and others do not, read on to discover some of the key factors that affect the natural position of your teeth.
The “Soft Food” Theory
A recent study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences introduces a variation on yet another theory – the idea that soft foods cause crooked teeth. The basic idea stems from the fact that a human diet today is significantly different from the diets of humans many thousands of years ago. In those days, humans were primarily hunters and gatherers. Those who gathered and tended to plants tended to have shorter, wider jaws. The ones who predominantly hunted for their food had narrower, longer lower jaws.
As humans began to rely more and more upon farms as a primary source of food, their jaws became correspondingly shorter and weaker, according to researcher Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel, who works as an anthropologist in the United Kingdom, at the University of Kent. As part of the newly published study, she reviewed skulls and jaws from dozens of skeletons from various parts of the world. Around half of the populations included in her research were from hunter-gatherer tribes and a little over half subsisted mostly by farming.
According to the results of Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel’s research, there did appear to be a correlation between the shape of the jaw and the type of food the tribes were eating. Softer foods meant weaker, shorter jaws; and shorter jaws also led to more crowding of the teeth.
The Opposing Evidence
However, there is a significant body of contradictory evidence in opposition to this theory. Dr. Weston A. Price lays out the opposing evidence in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. He points out examples of agricultural societies that had ample jaw space and strength, along with very straight teeth, such as the South Sea Islanders and Swiss farmers, who in spite of eating “soft foods” maintained near-perfect smiles. In addition, chewing harder food develops muscle, not bone, and has little to do with the straightness of teeth.
Multiple Causes for Crooked Teeth
In reality, crooked teeth are caused by a medley of factors. When people eat a lot of processed foods and do not consume enough minerals to support jaw and palate development, they tend to have narrower faces and jaws with more crowded, crooked teeth. There is a hereditary or genetic component as well; people whose parents had crooked teeth are more likely to inherit that propensity. Activities such as thumb-sucking, grinding the teeth, and other repetitive behaviours also have a part to play.
The Modern Smile Makeover
Through the advancement of science and technology in dentistry, there are now a variety of methods to correct crooked teeth, such as braces or a choice of Invisalign in Singapore. Learn more about the hands on skills and principles of the ideal smile design with us here.
