Oral Care: Is Your Child in Need of Dental Braces?

When parents learn that their child has misaligned or crooked teeth in childhood, they frequently consider having braces for their child. The real question is when a child should start wearing braces. Is it reasonable for children to undergo dental care when they still have baby teeth? These answers can be found in this post on children’s braces.

What are the signs to look out for?

If any of the following problems are related to your child, consider having a non-invasive approach to orthodontics in British Columbia.

Misaligned Teeth

Crooked baby teeth aren’t a problem in and of themselves. Because baby teeth are simply placeholders for adult teeth, there is no need to be concerned if they emerge correctly. Malocclusion, which is a severe misalignment, may necessitate therapy. Only the back teeth contact when the jaw is closed.

The upper teeth are too close to the lower teeth. Lower teeth overlap top teeth in an underbite. Crossbite is a situation in which the upper and lower teeth overlap. If not detected early, misaligned baby teeth might cause permanent teeth to grow unnaturally. Look up “invisalign cost Vancouver” to get more information on the prices of orthodontic treatments. 

Crowded Teeth

A child’s teeth may crowd for a variety of reasons. This can cause many teeth to protrude at odd angles, leading some to appear in front or behind their neighbor, higher or lower on the gum, twisted, or otherwise misaligned.

Prolonged Thumb-Sucking or Use of a Pacifier

At 12-24 months, your child should cease sucking their thumb and using a pacifier. By the age of four, the habits should be eliminated. Thumb-sucking and dummy/pacifier use can be detrimental to dental health. Constant sucking, pushing on the teeth, and having an object in the mouth can lead to crooked infant teeth. An open bite is a common sign of prolonged pacifier use.

Baby Teeth Falling Out Prematurely

Baby teeth guide adult teeth. When the permanent teeth are getting ready to erupt, the baby teeth’s nerves are severed and pushed out to be replaced by adult teeth. If your child’s baby teeth fall out too soon due to an injury or gum disease, the adult teeth will be without a guide. This can pose issues with their development since they may ‘drift’ to fill the space, leaving their neighbors with no place to grow. Baby teeth may slide into the gap and cause the same issue. Braces can help avoid this by keeping adult teeth in place.

Chewing Difficulty

If your child has difficulty chewing, it could be due to misplaced teeth. Bloating, diarrhea, cramps, and other symptoms may result from insufficient chewing. Chewing difficulties may result in cheek or tongue biting. Don’t worry; we all bite our cheeks and tongues from time to time. If this occurs frequently, their teeth may become misaligned, causing problems.

Mouth Breathing

Excessive mouth breathing in children might lead to mouth problems.

It has been associated with jaw, lip, and face abnormalities. It can also cause saliva to dry out, allowing bacteria to proliferate (which can contribute to gum disease and tooth decay). If your kid has these developmental issues, they may require kids braces to help their face develop and breathe.

Speech Difficulties

The development of children’s speech and language is dependent on their teeth. The development of a child’s teeth and jaw are critical to developing the child’s ability to speak verbally. If this has been impacted by an injury, misalignment, or other issues, it may alter how they speak. More severe examples include trouble pronouncing specific words or having difficulty speaking.

To Sum It Up

Braces are usually the last step in treating a child’s oral issues. They allow a child’s teeth to be aligned while reducing the risk of long-term orthodontic issues. When a qualified and experienced orthodontist fits a child with braces, you can be confident that they will do everything possible to ensure the child has the best possible results as soon as possible.