4 Signs Its Time for Your Child to Get Fitted for Braces
Every parent probably wants their child to grow up to have a complete, healthy, and straight set of teeth. Children who learn to value their oral health at a young age will carry these habits as they grow and reap the benefits of healthy teeth well into adulthood. Maintaining good dental hygiene from childhood is a crucial way not only to maintain one’s overall health but the appearance of beautiful and straight teeth as well.
A child’s first set of teeth, called the milk teeth, erupt at around six months of age and are complete by the time they are three years old. Milk teeth are small and relatively sensitive and fragile compared to human adult teeth, so they need to be cared for adequately to protect them until permanent teeth set in.
Permanent teeth begin to come in around age six after your child loses their first tooth. You can expect your child’s complete set of adult teeth by age 12. This time of transition to the permanent ones is a delicate time when issues with alignment of the jaw and the individual teeth tend to appear. Visiting your child’s pediatric dentist regularly can help prevent and correct dental problems. Your dental care provider will also assess whether any corrective treatment needs to be done sooner rather than later.
Most orthodontic treatment will be focused on addressing adult teeth. Still, catching issues early on can prevent your child from experiencing discomfort and distress that come with misaligned or malpositioned teeth and jaws. Here are some warning signs to watch out for that may indicate your child will need braces:
1. Your child has protruding front teeth
If your child used a pacifier or fixated on thumbsucking into late toddlerhood, then he or she may have developed protruding front teeth as a result. Many pediatricians and dentists do not recommend pacifier use past the age of two, but if your child relied on a one, then this may be the cause of protrusion in otherwise healthy teeth.
2. Your child frequently bites his tongue or the inside of his cheek
Once in a while, biting your tongue, or the inside of your cheek is a random yet normal occurrence. It is usually accidentally and not anything to be overly concerned about. It is a warning sign, however, when it frequently happens at mealtimes and in the same general area of the mouth. If your child complains of having bitten their teeth often or has trouble chewing their food, this may indicate that he either has an overbite or a crossbite.
An overbite is when the upper set of teeth extends excessively over the lower one. A crossbite is when the lower teeth extend past the top ones, which is usually because the lower jaw is misaligned.
3. Your child has speech issues
Speech issues can be a result of an abnormal bite. While many speech problems are neurological or psychological, some may arise as a result of misaligned teeth. It can be challenging for them to pronounce certain words, even with practice. They may wince or make pronounced facial movements to achieve certain word sounds, or they may refuse to say certain words because of the difficulty.
4. Your child lost their baby teeth at an early age
Whether by accident or by chance, losing your baby teeth can affect the placement of your adult teeth. Spacing is an issue as the milk teeth shift along the jawline, leaving no room for the permanent teeth. Adequate space is necessary to allow the uninterrupted growth of new teeth. Conversely, if there is too much space between the teeth, it can affect your child’s ability to chew and speak correctly as well.
The Bottom Line
Orthodontic braces can address many dental issues in childhood. However, most pediatric dentists will tend to wait until mostly permanent teeth set in. The critical thing to remember is to protect and preserve your child’s first teeth so they can serve them as long as possible until the new teeth come in. Visit your dental care provider regularly so you can anticipate and address any alignment problems as early as possible.
Are you looking for a pediatric dentist in Charlotte? We have a directory of specialists with expert care in child dental care and treatment. Browse our site to find the right one for you and your family.
