Braces are designed to improve a person’s dental health by straightening their teeth. They can be used to correct misaligned bites and restore smiles. Children can start using braces to address their dental problems by the time they reach eight years old. Bring up the subject of braces with your child’s orthodontist if you see them exhibiting the symptoms detailed in this article.
Irregularities in Your Child’s Teeth
To find out if your child potentially needs braces, you should take a moment to carefully check their teeth. During this inspection, you want to look for certain irregularities. Check if some of their teeth may be misplaced or blocked. Misaligned teeth should also be noticeable in children and that may manifest itself in the form of an overbite, underbite, or crossbite.
Children may develop blocked teeth if they lose their baby teeth too early. That could be a condition they naturally have or it could be a byproduct of poor dental hygiene. Notably, misaligned bites are issues that kids are typically born with. Make sure you talk to the orthodontist about those as soon as you see them.
A Persistent Thumb-Sucking Habit
Thumb-sucking is a habit that simply comes naturally to babies. It helps them feel secure so they do it out of instinct. Unfortunately, thumb-sucking can be problematic because of its impact on your child’s teeth. If your child still has this habit past their fourth birthday, then their teeth may become misaligned. On average, Americans spend around $5,000 on braces, according to Humana. By helping your child drop their thumb-sucking habit, you could avoid paying for that dental treatment.
A Tendency to Grind Their Teeth
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is not a problem exclusive to adults. Even kids are known to grind their teeth while they’re sleeping. Kids may grind their teeth while sleeping due to dental issues, stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Consult with an orthodontist to check if your child’s habit is a result of dental problems or something else.
Finding out that your child needs braces may come as a surprise, but it could also be a fortunate twist of fate. Because you consulted with an orthodontist early on, your child should have an easier time dealing with their dental issues. Give us a call today if your child needs a consultation!