Orthodontic problems may have some seriously negative effects on children’s oral health, which in turn can cause many other health issues that need to be dealt with. Since it’s unrealistic to expect our children to spot any signs of such problems, it’s our role, as parents, to be alert, recognize and react promptly if such a problem occurs. In order to do that, we first need to be familiar with the early symptoms and signs that there is an orthodontic problem.
Naturally, the better the prevention, the smaller the chances of a problem appearing in the first place. That’s why it’s vital to pay regular visits to your dentist or orthodontist and monitor the situation closely. Still, in order to be able to react on time, you need to know what the most typical signs of a problem that requires your child to wear braces are.
Crowding
This is probably the most typical reason to ask for professional help. As the name suggests, crowding refers to a lack of space in the mouth for all the teeth. As a result, being unable to grow properly, teeth become crooked, which can lead to a series of other problems. For instance, brushing and flossing become quite difficult and if they are not done properly, teeth can decay easily.
Depending on how severe the crowding is, it might be even impossible to reach certain parts of teeth and those teeth then accumulate plaque, leading to tooth decay, horrible odor, gum disease and even bone loss around teeth. The sooner this problem is diagnosed and treated appropriately, the better the chances of avoiding some future problems. In many cases, crowded teeth can be aligned and straightened, which significantly reduces the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Overbite
If you notice that your child has an overbite, i.e. there’s either the vertical or horizontal overlap of the front teeth, you need to consult an expert as soon as possible. Some overbites are more severe than others and can be easily detected, even at an early age. Of course, the bigger the overbite, the bigger the problem, which is why you must visit your dentist as soon as you notice this issue.
If not treated on time and in the right way, an overbite can lead to an increased risk of trauma to the front teeth, which can easily get fractured in case of injury and that opens the door to many other problems. Not only that, but it can cause some complications and lead to shorter longevity of dental restorative work such as cosmetic fillings, crowns, and veneers which you can do at any Cosmetic Dentist London.
Crossbite
On the other hand, there is a crossbite, when the upper tooth is behind the lower opposing tooth. This equally serious problem is another reason why your child needs good kids braces. If not treated properly, a crossbite can cause fracture of both teeth due to excessive wear and the gums might recess around the affected teeth. This makes it very difficult, or even impossible, to replace those teeth and the jaw might grow asymmetrically.
Underbite
If all the upper front teeth are behind the lower front teeth, we are talking about an underbite, which is another symptom that requires urgent attention. It often appears as a consequence of disproportionate jaw size, but it further leads towards imbalanced facial appearance, problems with biting and chewing, as well as faster facial aging.
Open bite
An open bite is another type of irregular bite when the front teeth do not touch. Tough it may seem trivial, this problem makes biting difficult and it can also lead to speech problems, such as lisps.
If you pay regular visits to your child’s dentist and teach your young ones about the importance of dental hygiene, you’ll have much better chances of preventing any similar problems from escalating. Bearing in mind the importance of dental health, we mustn’t neglect any of the symptoms that we might notice in our kids and react promptly, following professional advice.
