Signs Your Child Could Benefit From Orthodontic Treatment

Posted on January 26, 2023

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, children should see an orthodontist by the time they turn seven, or if you see signs of sudden orthodontic problems. With this knowledge, it’s important to check on your child’s teeth and jaw alignment. They could easily be growing their teeth in a misaligned order which can kickstart the primary stages of severe dental problems. Bringing them to a dentist for children should help with a diagnosis. This blog will discuss some of the common signs of orthodontic issues in children.

Crooked or Crowded Teeth

One of the most common issues in children’s dental alignment is crooked or crowded teeth. Having crooked or crowded teeth is an immediate sign of potential orthodontic issues. Crooked teeth occur when the teeth grow unevenly and at strange angles, causing the child’s bite to be misaligned. Crowded teeth are caused by a lack of space in the jaw alignment, causing the teeth to be crowded together. Both of these alignments create an instance where it’s difficult for your child to clean their teeth properly. If the problem worsens without correction, tooth decay can begin, and the tooth could need to be removed.

Overbite and Underbite

Having an overbite is more common than an underbite, but both issues are serious problems that need to be addressed by an orthodontist. An overbite is when the top row of teeth sticks farther out than usual, causing them to be unaligned with the bottom teeth. An underbite is the opposite of an overbite: the top teeth are pushed far back, to the point where the bottom teeth are aligned in front of the top teeth. Both issues can cause major jaw problems and cleaning issues, which can lead to bacteria buildup.

Some less common but still important issues to address are as follows:

• Difficulty speaking can be a sign of a misaligned jaw.
• Continually breathing through the mouth can damage the structure of the jaw.
• Thumb-sucking can misalign teeth and restructure the jaw,
• Having a crooked jaw without correction can make the problem worse over time.

With these issues, a simple fix with braces will save your children from future issues and provide them with straight teeth. Don’t delay; call Jacaranda Smiles, a dentist for children, and schedule an appointment for your child’s dental health.