Introduction

An underbite is simply a condition to do with how your teeth are aligned. Sometimes our teeth might be aligned in a way that makes us very difficult to talk, feels painful, and sends different emotions gestures that you dint intent. Achieving a good smile when you are having an underbite can be very difficult. In normal circumstances, our teeth should grow in a way that the upper teeth fit over the lower teeth a little bit. Your molars should also fit into one another very well. When you have proper tooth alignment, you will prevent things such as biting your cheeks, your tongue as well as your lips especially when you eat and talk. Many things cause underbite among people. Here are some of the causes of an underbite

Childhood habits

This is the first thing that can cause an underbite. There are some habits that children get used to that can cause the risk of having an underbite. Other dental misalignments can be caused by childhood habits. Some of the habits that can cause an underbite to include sucking of thumbs, pushing teeth with your tongue, long term feeding on a bottle, and user of a pacifier for children who are above three years.  

Genetics

Genetics is another common cause of underbites.  Three-quarters of underbite conditions are always inherited. If one of your family members has an underbite, you as a child is most likely to also develop the condition. Genetics are very powerful in deciding someone’s tooth size and shape as well. Someone might be born with teeth that are abnormally shaped, close together, impacted, or a tooth that does not fit well together. There are also other conditions such as palate or cleft lip that can appear at birth. All these conditions are associated with genetics.

Injury

Another cause of underbite can also be injuries. If you injure your face severely, you can experience damages to the jawbone. When that happens, it can be easy to repair the jawbone but after the repair, there is a likelihood that the jaws will not fit together properly. When that happens, the patient or the person affected can have an underbite.

Tumors

Tumors have also been found to be the cause of major underbite problems. When a patient has tumors on the jawbone or in the mouth, that might lead to the protruding of the jaws. If that happens, there is a likelihood that the patient will suffer from an underbite.

Conclusion

An underbite is a less common dental condition these days. This is a condition that interferes with a person’s self-esteem and the quality of your life as well. The good news is that an underbite can be corrected or treated. Before you even diagnose yourself with an underbite, it is best if you visited your dental doctor. Let the doctor examine you and find out if what you have is an underbite or not. If you have it, better treatment options and underbite correctionwill be prescribed for you.