Let’s be honest—most of us weren’t born with perfectly straight teeth. In fact, having naturally straight teeth is pretty rare. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your smile doesn’t look like it came straight out of a toothpaste commercial, you’re not alone.
And there’s a reason why more and more adults are opting for braces or clear aligners like Invisalign to get their teeth in line.
A 2019 survey from the British Orthodontic Society showed that 75% of UK orthodontists had seen a rise in adult patients looking to straighten their teeth.
And it’s not just a UK thing—it’s happening worldwide. By mid-2019, over 7.2 million people were using clear aligners like Invisalign to get their teeth sorted out.
But why aren’t our teeth naturally straight in the first place? Did we do something wrong, or is there more to it?
Dr Rhona Eskander from Chelsea Dental Clinic has the lowdown: “It’s actually pretty rare to see someone with naturally straight teeth.
There are a lot of factors that come into play, and to some degree, most of us have some level of misalignment.”
What’s Messing with Our Teeth?
- Your Jaw’s Too Small: Ever feel like your mouth is too crowded? You’re not imagining it. Some of us just don’t have enough room in our jaws for all our teeth, which leads to overcrowding. There’s even a theory that because our modern diets are softer and require less chewing, our jaws have gotten smaller over time. So, it’s not really your fault—it’s evolution!
- Teeth Like to Move: As you age, your teeth naturally shift around, and no, it’s not because they’re being rebellious. Your teeth are connected to your jaw by flexible ligaments, which means they’ve got a bit of wiggle room. Over the years, this “mesial drift” can cause your teeth to move out of alignment.
- Tooth Decay and Gum Issues: If you’ve got cavities or gum disease, your teeth can start moving around more than they should. Decay weakens the enamel, while gum disease can mess with the soft tissues that hold your teeth in place. Long story short—if your dental health isn’t up to par, your teeth might start wandering.
- Missing Teeth: Got a gap where a tooth used to be? Well, that gap is like an invitation for your other teeth to start moving in. Missing teeth can mess with the alignment of your whole mouth, but, fun fact, sometimes this is actually useful in orthodontics. If your teeth are overcrowded, having a bit of extra space can help give them room to breathe.
- Face Trauma: Had a bit of a run-in with something hard? A hit to the face can easily knock your teeth out of place, sometimes permanently.
- Bad Habits: Thumb-sucking, grinding your teeth at night, even resting your face on your hand while staring at your computer—all these little habits can change the position of your teeth. If you’re someone who clenches or grinds your teeth while you sleep (and many people don’t even realize they do), you might be wearing them down without even knowing it.
How to Get Straight Teeth Naturally? Sort of.
If you’re hoping to learn how to get straight teeth naturally, you might want to reconsider what “natural” means. While you can’t magically will your teeth to straighten themselves, there are things you can do to prevent them from getting worse.
Dr Eskander suggests focusing on your dental health first: fix gum disease, avoid tooth decay, and stop any bad habits (no more thumb-sucking, please!).
But if your teeth are already doing their own thing and you want to straighten them out, there are a ton of options available.
Traditional braces are still an option, but if you don’t love the idea of metal brackets in your mouth, you’re in luck.
There’s a more discreet solution: clear aligners like Invisalign. These aligners are practically invisible, super comfortable, and—you guessed it—removable.
They’re a great option if you want to straighten your teeth without anyone really noticing, and they’re perfect for adults with busy lives, especially those in public-facing jobs or who are into sports. Plus, you can see a digital preview of what your teeth will look like after treatment, which is pretty cool.
The key takeaway? While straight teeth might not come naturally for most of us, modern orthodontics has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.
Whether you go for braces or clear aligners, there’s no shortage of ways to get the smile you’ve always wanted.