How To Know If Your Child Or Teenager Needs Braces?

Orthodontics is a sizeable investment in your child’s health.

As many parents are aware, good dental health will carry a person in good stead throughout their entire life. However, many people often don’t know whether their child or teenager does need braces. The best answer to this question will come from an orthodontist, but here are some factors that may indicate you need to make an appointment for appraisal:

Behavioural factors:

• Mouth breathing
• Thumb or finger sucking
• Difficulty chewing or biting
• Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth

Excessive or long term thumb or finger sucking has long been known to cause dental differences. In some cases, excessive pacifier use will cause changes in the shape of the mouth and dental abnormalities. If you have an infant or toddler and you are worried about how thumb sucking or pacifier use may impact your child, talk to your dentist about implementing good habits for your child.

If you find that your child has food or particles consistently caught between their teeth despite proper brushing techniques and flossing (or an inability to floss certain areas) it may be an indication that braces are required.

You may also notice some other indicators such as crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth, as well as teeth that meet abnormally. If you can hear your child’s jaw making sounds you should seek a consultation with an orthodontist.

Other examples are:

• Early, late, or irregular loss of baby teeth. Your child’s dentist will be able to give an indication of whether your child is abnormal in this respect.
• If your child or teenager has jaws or teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face, protrude or are recessed.

If you think your child or teenager may need braces or you would like an orthodontic appraisal, then contact Tony Weir Orthodontics today.