HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD NEEDS BRACES

Full Children's Orthodontics Guide

+ Part 1: An introduction + Part 2: Does my child need an orthodontist? + Part 3: Braces for children + Part 4: Kids’ braces FAQs + Part 5: Retainers for kids

Keep reading to find out some early warning signs for orthodontic problems.

But first let’s take a look at what causes orthodontic problems for kids and whether they can be prevented.

What causes orthodontic problems?

Orthodontic problems are often caused by malocclusion – where the upper and lower teeth don’t line up properly.

It has long been known that such orthodontic problems can be inherited.

Other causes of malocclusion include dummy, thumb and finger sucking.

Thumb sucking and braces

If a child stops these habits by the age of 7, any abnormal growth in teeth can often be corrected.

After this age, the sucking habit can permanently affect the position of the adult teeth.

You can encourage your child to give up their habit, praise them for progress and use a physical barrier such as a nail guard or foul-tasting “thumb sucking liquid”.

SIGNS YOU SHOULD TAKE YOUR CHILD TO AN ORTHODONTIST

Even if your child has beautiful baby teeth, they could still have problems in the future.

Depending on your child’s age, here are some questions to ask yourself.

Does your child:

Have crowded or misplaced teeth? Have protruding teeth? Grind or clench their teeth? Suck their thumb or fingers? Have signs of wear in the enamel of their teeth? Have protruding teeth? Find chewing or biting difficult? Have difficulty with their speech? Have missing teeth?

These can all be early warning signs for orthodontic problems.

Others can include early or late loss of baby teeth.

Please get in touch to make an appointment or to find out more about children’s orthodontics.

What happens if my child does not see an orthodontist?

What happens if kids don't get orthodontic treatment at the right age?

It’s crucial that problems are spotted early on so you can try to put things right and help to prevent further problems as your child gets older.

Child orthodontist near me

Orthodontic problems can get steadily worse and, the older someone gets, the more limited the opportunities for improvement become.

The longer the problem goes on, the more time consuming and complex treatment can become.