As your child grows older, you may begin to wonder if they need braces. How do you know if they need them, when they need them, or what their best treatment option is? It’s important to know the answers to these questions for the health of your little one. Thankfully, an expert dentist has 5 signs you can look for to see whether your son or daughter needs braces as well as some recommendations for the best treatment option.
#1. Early or Late Loss of Baby Teeth
Losing baby teeth too early can cause misalignment in your child’s smile. The gaps caused by missing teeth can cause their adjacent teeth to drift out of place. Their teeth support each other, so when they lose teeth too early, they’re at risk of misalignment. Additionally, losing teeth too late can cause alignment issues like crowding.
#2. Crowded Teeth
If you notice that your child’s teeth seem crowded together, they will probably need braces. This overlapping of teeth can cause issues like difficulty chewing, uncomfortable biting, lisps, mouth breathing, and more. Crowded teeth are a telltale sign that your child needs orthodontics in Glenpool.
#3. Misaligned Jaw
Having a jaw that doesn’t match up correctly can cause problems like underbites, overbites, and crossbites. When your kids’ teeth aren’t properly aligned, it can lead to painful and frequent tongue or cheek biting. Bite problems can eventually cause other issues with their jaw, so it’s important to recognize this misalignment to bring your children in for treatment.
#4. Prolonged Thumb-Sucking
Another way to know if your child might need braces is if they’ve had a history of thumb sucking. This creates suction that can cause your child’s front teeth to protrude outward as well as crowding in their bottom teeth. While thumb sucking isn’t a direct sign that they need braces, a long history of thumb sucking increases their risk of crowding and misalignment.
#5. Mouth Breathing
Breathing through your mouth may not sound harmful, but this habit can affect the appearance of your child’s face and the growth of their teeth. Children often develop longer faces with more narrow jaws because their tongue is not able to rest on the roof of their mouth. A smaller jaw means there’s less room for teeth to grow in, which is why they’ll need orthodontics.
The only way to know the best treatment option for your child is to schedule an appointment with your dentist. They will carefully evaluate your son or daughter’s smile to see what kind of braces they would benefit from most.
Meet the Dentist
Dr. Dalia Gregory is a highly-trained dentist who also offers general dental services. She takes pride in her ability to help patients of all ages receive a straight and healthy smile. She currently practices at Glenpool Braces, and she can be contacted through her website or by phone at (918) 201-1414 for any questions.