It can be an exciting experience the first time you see your child’s baby teeth emerging. But you notice the teeth are not the picture-perfect smile you envision: they are growing in crooked! You might think you have done something to cause your baby’s teeth to not develop normally, but crooked tooth growth happens more frequently than you might know. Let’s look at some common reasons for crooked teeth development.

The crooked eruption of a baby's teeth is a regular occurrence. The majority of the time, genetics will have the biggest impact on how your baby's teeth grow. Overcrowding in the mouth can result from having large teeth from one parent and possibly a short mandible from the other. Around six months old, when the baby's first teeth start to erupt, this is a possibility. There are other factors to consider, though, if your child's teeth erupting unevenly. They consist of the following:
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Educating yourself about your baby’s teeth development and potential problems is the best way to help plan the best strategy if such problems arise. Here’s a little more in-depth explanation as to the most common causes for crooked baby teeth.

The first set of teeth frequently come in crooked and may even take the form of a V. This seems to be more obvious in the lower teeth. Pediatric dentists say there is nothing to be concerned about at this point in your child's teeth growth. As the youngster grows, the child's teeth should self-correct. The only thing you can do is to discourage prolonged pacifier or thumb sucking after 12 to 24 months of age. This can then be ruled out as a potential cause of significantly misaligned teeth in the future.
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One concern you may have is when there is no space between your baby’s developing teeth. You may fear that your little one will not have enough room for the permanent teeth to break through and cause overcrowding.

Babies typically have very little space between their baby teeth. For primary teeth, closely developed teeth are not a major concern for orthodontic or pediatric dentists. Many dentists have said that as adult teeth begin to emerge, closely spaced teeth are a symptom of crowding. They emphasize how crucial it is for you to establish and adhere to a twice-daily oral hygiene program. 
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A baby's teeth coming in at an angle or slant is quite normal. In particular, this is valid for permanent teeth. The teeth will progressively move into proper alignment when they erupt. Your dentist may decide to extract the primary tooth if it is still there when the adult permanent teeth erupt and is misaligned. 

Even though the infant's primary teeth may erupt at an angle, your child's tongue will naturally force them into proper alignment once the adult teeth have broken through and the primary teeth have fallen out. Overall, a pediatric dentist or orthodontist advises patients to maintain good dental hygiene, eat healthfully, and abstain from sugary foods and beverages.

The habit of sucking one's thumb or pacifier is another factor in the development of crooked teeth. Sucking is a natural process. As breastfeeding is introduced, this instinct helps the baby hold the breast more effectively. It's thought that simply putting something in your baby's mouth will quiet and comfort them.
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Most pediatric dentists and health professionals agree that pacifier use isn’t harmful to your baby as long as the practice isn’t continued past the age of 36 months. Most health practitioners prefer the pacifier use over the thumb, as trying to break a thumb sucking habit is extremely difficult past the age of 2 or 3. 

It is normal for you to be anxious about any potential issues with your child's tooth development, as it is for the majority of parents. When issues emerge, be careful to consult a pediatric dentist for guidance. A pediatric dentist can help you stop your child's teeth from developing improperly in the future.
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