Teeth problems in kids are arguably one of the biggest concerns for any parent. From crooked teeth to delayed eruption of permanent teeth and jaw misalignments, there are plenty of teeth issues that may affect your child’s oral health. The problems may require different forms of treatment to address them, including wearing braces.

Orthodontics is one of the most common dental procedures among children and teens. Over 4.5 million Americans are undergoing orthodontic treatment currently, while only 25% of these patients are adults. Signs that your child will require braces aren’t straightforward. Only an orthodontist can tell for sure that your kid requires to get braces today.

If you’ve been wondering if your child is the right candidate for braces treatment, here are three signs to look out for.

1. Crooked Teeth

Parents are advised to visually inspect their kid’s teeth as they grow. One of the easily identifiable dental flaws is misaligned teeth. Only a few individuals are fortunate enough to have a perfect set of teeth. Most Americans require a little help through orthodontics to look their best.

Why worry about slightly crooked teeth? Aesthetic appearances aside, misaligned teeth can tag along with a host of problems for your child, including:

• Chewing difficulty
• Poor oral hygiene
• Dental pain and discomfort
• Difficulty in speaking
• Low self-esteem

While teeth do not have to be perfect, it is advisable to fix your child’s teeth as early as possible to avoid advanced dental issues down the road.

2. Misaligned Jaw

Protruding jawlines may lead to malocclusions such as overbites, underbites, and crossbites. It also leads to strain on the temporal mandibular joint, resulting in excruciating pain and headaches. The effects of the malocclusions vary with the degree of misalignment.

Overbites and underbites may increase the risk of injury, improper chewing of food, and tooth grinding. Your child may also have speech problems, like struggling to pronounce certain words. Crossbites may be difficult to clean, resulting in poor dental hygiene. Get braces today to help treat the temporal mandibular joint disorder and fix the bad bites.

3. Crowded or Spaced Teeth

If there isn’t enough space, your child’s teeth may overlap or grow too closely together. It may lead to overcrowding. Crowded teeth make it difficult for your kid to brush or floss properly. They may also cause uncomfortable chewing, aesthetic issues, mouth breathing, and lisps.

While it’s normal for a child to have gaps with their primary teeth, permanent teeth with huge spaces are a source of concern. Overly spaced teeth may cause problems with speech, food trapping, and self-image.

Remember, for your child to be able to properly articulate certain words and sounds, the tongue has to press against the teeth. If the said teeth are overly spaced or crowded, it changes the tongue’s positioning, which then affects pronunciation.

Your kid can get braces today to help space out crowded teeth or close the gaps in spaced teeth. Orthodontic treatments such as Invisalign aligners straighten teeth by gradually pushing them to the correct position. With our orthodontist Dr. David Ross closely monitoring their progress, the child will have a set of perfectly spaced teeth.

Schedule an Appointment Today

As a parent, you may be concerned about your child’s oral health. Identifying these signs can help you get orthodontic treatment for your child as early as possible. Get your child braces treatment today to help better their oral health, improve their self-image, and brighten their smile. Contact us today to book your free smile consultation with David Ross Orthodontics in Hanover!