Braces for Kids: Does Your Child Need Them?

Braces for Kids: Does Your Child Need Them?

Does your child have a crooked smile? While slightly crooked teeth can be cute on little kids, if left unchecked, those lopsided pearly whites could lead to some pretty severe oral hygiene issues down the line.

If you think your child might need braces but aren’t sure if you should get them now or wait until they’re a bit older, we’re here to help! Here’s everything you need to know about braces for kids.

Does My Child Need Braces?

If you’re asking yourself, “does your child need braces?” then there’s a good chance they do. The problems that braces fix are generally pretty easy to spot. That said, here’s a shortlist of surefire signs your child needs or will soon need braces:

• Severely crowded or blocked teeth
• Issues with biting and chewing
• Misplaced teeth
• Protruding teeth
• Overbite and underbite
• Teeth grinding

If your child has any of these problems, odds are they need braces which your orthodontist Swindon can help you with.

That said, just because your child needs braces, that doesn’t mean they need them right now.

When Can My Child Get Braces?

While you may already be seeing signs that your child needs braces, that may not mean you should go ahead and book an appointment with an orthodontist as soon as possible. Depending on your child’s age, there’s a good chance they aren’t even eligible for orthodontic braces yet.

Generally speaking, most children don’t get braces until they’re nine years old at the youngest. However, when it comes to getting braces — unless your child is dealing with health issues stemming from crooked teeth — there’s no need to rush. In fact, the longer you wait, the better the results may be.

You’ll need to wait until all of your child’s baby teeth fall out and their permanent adult teeth come in before even considering getting braces for your child. Once that happens, you can begin to discuss the possibility of braces with your child’s dentist.

The Benefits of Braces for Kids

Crooked or crowded teeth are pretty detrimental to kids’ dental health. If your teeth aren’t straight, cleaning and caring for them can be much more difficult — which could lead to the development of cavities and other oral issues. Straight teeth are much easier to take care of, so by getting your child braces, you’ll be helping them avoid cavities, plaque build-up, and even gingivitis.

On top of that, getting your child braces early on will help them find confidence in their smile and appearance, which could help them build a strong sense of confidence that will last into their adult life.

So, whether your child has crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw, you should consider contacting a pediatric specialist dentist to help figure out the best course of action.

Is Your Child Ready for Braces?

Now that you know a bit more about the benefits of braces for kids and when children are eligible to visit the orthodontist, it’s time to decide whether or not your child needs and is ready for braces.

Are you looking for more advice on how to give your kids a leg up on life? We’ve got you covered. Check out our blog for more helpful articles today!

Guest Article. Contains sponsored links.