5 Warning Signs Your Child Needs Braces

Sometimes it takes seeing a professional to know whether or not your child requires orthodontic treatment. However, there are a few things that parents can keep an eye out for that tell them their child may need braces. We will discuss some of the many signifiers that your children will need kids braces to help straighten their teeth.

Crowded Teeth or Gaps

Sometimes, when teeth grow in, a child’s teeth are not straight or there is not enough room. They might twist in unusual ways, overlap, or have spaces between them. Kids braces help straighten teeth, so your child has room in their mouth for all of their teeth to fit nicely. Crooked teeth and gaps will affect how they chew food and speak.

Losing Baby Teeth Too Early or Late

Sometimes, when your child loses their baby teeth too early or late, this could cause alignment problems with their teeth. Their teeth may have gaps and some teeth do not grow properly.

Eating and Sleeping Problems

If your child is having difficulty either eating or sleeping, they could need braces. Sleep apnea sometimes occurs in children with crowded teeth and jaw problems, causing problems with airflow and breathing at night when sleeping. In this way, crooked teeth may cause sleeplessness and snoring in children.

Sucking Their Thumbs and Pacifiers

If your child sucks their thumb too often, this may cause problems with how their teeth grow in. It could also cause jaw pain over time. If possible, find ways to break this habit early before their adult teeth start coming in. This can cause teeth to grow crooked, cause jaw pain, and problems with their teeth.

Protruding Teeth

Teeth can stick out from the bottom of the mouth. This is called an underbite. When they stick out from the top, it is referred to as an overbite. Both can cause problems with eating, speaking, and sometimes with breathing properly. These are all reasons your dentist may recommend kids’ braces and a visit to the orthodontist.

Over 3.5 million kids and teens will get braces yearly, according to BracesCT.com. The average age for children to get braces is between 7-14 years old. Most braces have to be worn for 1 to 2 years at the most. We use clear aligners and braces for treatment. If your dentist has recommended kids braces, call us today to learn more.