Since about 75% of children and teens develop dental problems that require orthodontic treatment, you may already be anticipating that your little one will eventually need braces. As your son or daughter starts to lose their baby teeth and get their permanent set of pearly whites, you may be wondering how to tell if they need braces. Identifying orthodontic issues early in your child’s oral development can make all the difference in preventing serious complications in the future. Keep a lookout for these five signs that your little one may benefit from pediatric orthodontics in Holliston.
1.) Early or Late Loss of Baby Teeth
While your child’s baby teeth aren’t a permanent fixture of their precious smile, they play a big role in your child’s oral development. They hold space in the jaw for their permanent teeth and help them come in correctly. If baby teeth are lost much earlier or later than expected, your child’s adult teeth may come in incorrectly or become trapped underneath the gums.
2.) Misaligned Jaw or Bite Problems
Do your child’s jaws match up correctly? Many children develop problems like overbite, underbite, or crossbite. Like many orthodontic issues, bite misalignment is easiest to treat when caught early and your child’s jaws and other oral structures are still developing. Keep an eye out for symptoms of jaw problems like frequent tongue or cheek biting or jaws that appear crooked.
3.) Crowded Teeth
When teeth are crowded together and overlapping, they create small spaces that easily trap cavity-causing plaque and bacteria. The sooner crowded teeth are treated, the lower your little one’s risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health conditions is.
4.) Prolonged Thumb-Sucking
Thumb-sucking is a natural reflex in children. While this habit typically fades by the age of four, persistent thumb-sucking can influence how your child’s precious smile grows. The extra pressure can cause the adult teeth to come in crookedly and change how the roof of the mouth and jaws develop.
5.) Mouth Breathing
A variety of orthodontic issues can cause your child to feel more comfortable breathing through their mouth. Whether it’s because their tongue doesn’t fit on the roof of their mouth properly, their jaws aren’t coming together correctly, or their teeth are somewhat protruding, mouth breathing is a sign that your little one may need orthodontic treatment.
How to Tell If Your Child Needs Braces
The only way to know for sure whether your son or daughter needs braces is to visit your orthodontist. The American Dental Association recommends that children have an orthodontic checkup by the age of seven. This way, potential issues can be spotted as early as possible and your orthodontist can determine if your child will need braces in the future. In some cases, correcting problems early with pediatric orthodontics can save you and your little one time, hassle, and extensive treatments in the future.
Remember, orthodontic treatments are about more than improving appearance. Correcting crooked teeth and misaligned bites will help your son or daughter enjoy years of happy, healthy smiles!
About the Practice
Simply Orthodontics Holliston is proud to offer orthodontic solutions for smiles of all ages. Whether you or your loved one needs traditional braces, Invisalign, or pediatric orthodontics, our highly trained team is here to help. As active members in prestigious organizations like the American Association of Orthodontists, they are excited to provide the latest, most comfortable, and most effective treatments available. To see if your son or daughter needs pediatric orthodontics, we can be reached online or at (508) 429-7800.