Modern dental health for our kids is one of the good news stories of our times. The number of cavities adolescents had reduced by half between the 1970s and 1990s.

When you have kids orthodontics isn’t top of your list of concerns. Nevertheless, your kid may need orthodontic care. Read on to learn 5 signs that your child should see an orthodontist.

Early Treatment is Best

There are lots of signs that your kid needs to visit an orthodontist but you shouldn’t wait to see one of these signs. A visit to an orthodontist is a good idea even if there is no particular problem.

An early visit to the orthodontist may identify a potential problem long before you pick up on the signs. This means that the orthodontist can start treatment early and limit any suffering. They can also nip a problem in the bud before it needs major work.

Early treatment could include guiding jaw development, addressing permanent teeth problems such as gaps and poor alignment of permanent teeth. This can reduce the likelihood of extraction of permanent teeth later in life, corrective straightening, and even improve your child’s smile.

Psychological Benefits

Fear of visiting the dentist otherwise known as dental phobia indicates that many sufferers seem to have begun their anxiety in childhood. Fearful parents and traumatic experiences may be among the most common causes.

It seems that giving your child positive experiences of dental care early in their life may be helpful in reducing this psychological problem.

Visits to see the orthodontist can start very young. The visit can involve meeting the friendly dental staff. The orthodontist carryout a none-invasive check of your kid’s teeth. They can also give your child some positive re-enforcement for their home teeth cleaning regime.

Seeing that you are not anxious about visiting the orthodontist is a powerfully positive experience for your kid. If your child does need treatment, it’s better that this is not identified on their first visit.

1. Overbite or Underbite

An overbite or under-bite is an indication that your kid may need some orthodontal care. An overbite is when the upper teeth overly protrude beyond the lower teeth. It’s normal for the upper teeth to protrude somewhat but you may notice that this is excessive in your kid.

Look out for a deep bite where the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth and reach below the lower gum line. Also, upper teeth may be excessively prominent and your kid might even find it difficult to close their lips. These overbite issues can be checked by your orthodontist and any corrective work started while your kid’s teeth are developing.

An underbite is when the lower teeth protrude. The upper teeth may even be hidden when your closes their teeth together.

An overbite or underbite could be caused by a problem with the growth of your kid’s teeth or even by a problem with their jaw. Treatments vary depending on the cause of the problem.

2. Gaps Between Teeth

If you notice gaps in your child’s permanent teeth this may suggest a problem. Permanent teeth may be growing in a crooked manner or perhaps even missing. Have this checked early and your orthodontist may be able to either resolve the problem or at least mitigate it.

3. Overcrowding

Overcrowding of permanent teeth can result in several problems later in life. Overlapping teeth are difficult to keep clean and so can result in cavities. When teeth are too close together they can inhibit the growth of their neighboring teeth.

Effectively functioning teeth are ones that can bite and chew well. Problems with this in later life could mean teeth have to be extracted leaving awkward gaps making biting and chewing difficult or even painful. Dealing with overcrowding early in the development of your kid’s teeth can protect against this and help with developing a confident smile.

4. Biting Problems

If your kid’s jaw produces a popping sound when they move it, it’s time to visit the orthodontist. The sound or feeling could be associated with biting, chewing or even talking. They may have a problem with their jaw.

Any difficulty biting or chewing should be checked by your orthodontist. This can sometimes show itself by repeatedly biting the inside of their own cheek. This can be painful and distressing for your kid and yet easily resolved by a visit to the orthodontist.

5. Breathing Problems

If your child has any problems breathing, this is a cause for concern. It should be investigated.

A common example of a breathing problem is when the child tends to breathe through their mouth rather than through their nose. This may not seem to indicate a problem with your kid’s teeth but it’s still something the orthodontist can help your child with.

Snoring while asleep may indicate a blockage in your child’s nose or problems with their jaw. Get this checked and you may ease their sleep and yours too.

Choosing an Orthodontists

Once you have reason to attend an orthodontist or if you decide to make a visit to help familiarize your child with the experience you need to find a suitable orthodontist.

If you have a regular orthodontist you may prefer to stick with them. Not all orthodontists are the same so you may wish to do some research. Look for an orthodontist with a good reputation for a personal touch with families.

Treating kids takes special skills. You want a dental professional who’s great at communication, has a talent for treating kids, and who listens to your concerns too.