As a parent, you tend to notice every little thing about your child. Maybe they sometimes struggle to bite or chew while eating their favorite meal, or you’ve caught them rubbing their cheek after biting the inside of it. Or perhaps pronouncing certain words gives them a bit of trouble. Whatever the case, even though these moments may seem easy to brush off, they actually signal the need for orthodontic treatment. Here are some telltale signs that it might be time to schedule them for an orthodontic consultation.
Trouble Biting or Chewing
This is one of the more obvious signs that orthodontics may be needed. When teeth are misaligned, your child may not be able to chew their food properly, or they may even bite their tongue or the inside of their cheek while trying to eat.
Speech Problems
Misaligned teeth can sometimes affect your child’s air control and ability to pronounce certain words. Particularly, they may struggle to pronounce “s”, “sh”, and “z” sounds. In some cases, orthodontic treatment alongside speech pathology might be the secret to helping them speak clearly.
Obvious Overlapping Teeth
A slight overbite, when the top teeth overlap the bottom row, is normal—but if you notice that when your child bites down, their bottom teeth are difficult to see, it means they have an extensive overbite. An underbite, which is the inverse of this issue, is also possible. In either case, orthodontics can address the issue.
Crooked Teeth
There are a variety of reasons why your child’s teeth may come in crooked, such as if their permanent teeth grow around baby teeth that are too slow to fall out, or if their jaw isn’t large enough for their adult teeth. Orthodontics can easily move crooked teeth back into the proper place.
Gaps Between Teeth
Sometimes teeth don’t have enough space between each other, and other times, there are larger-than-normal gaps present. Spacing issues impact how the adult teeth will eventually emerge, not to mention they can also complicate oral hygiene and increase the risk of issues like cavities.
Mouth or Jaw Pain
Not every orthodontic problem can be clearly observed—but they can sometimes be felt, and this doesn’t make them any less significant. If your child is experiencing mouth or jaw pain regularly, there might be an underlying orthodontic reason.
When Should My Child Attend an Orthodontic Consultation?
If you notice any of the above issues, it’s not too late to schedule an orthodontic appointment for your child. That said, most experts recommend that children undergo an orthodontic evaluation by the time they’re 7 years old. By then, it’s usually possible to tell if there are any issues present that warrant braces. While phase 1 orthodontics is a possibility, it might also be best to wait until your child is 10 – 14 years old, after most of the baby teeth have fallen out.
This is part of why routine dental checkups are important; knowing exactly when to begin orthodontics will help to set your child up for a lifetime of happy, healthy smiling! However, also be sure to keep an eye out for some of these signs on your own so that nothing flies under the radar.
About the Practice
At Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, our team is proud to serve families throughout Nashua and the surrounding area with expert pediatric dental and orthodontic care all under one roof. If you’re noticing signs that your child may benefit from Phase 1 orthodontics, our team is here to help with a thorough evaluation and a personalized treatment plan. Contact us today or call (603) 880-5002 to schedule your child’s consultation!