Most adults either have had some orthodontic work done or know someone else who has. You probably have an idea of the amount of time it takes to correct orthodontic problems. The good news is that the sooner those problems are addressed, the more quickly they can be resolved. That means watching out for early symptoms of orthodontic trouble.
Cleaning Difficulties
Crooked, misaligned teeth are among the most common orthodontic problems. It’s not as easy to thoroughly clean cooked or poorly aligned teeth. If they overlap even a small amount, you can’t effectively brush all the surfaces, leaving you to rely on flossing to clean the parts the toothbrush can’t reach. Cleaning difficulties can result in discolored teeth and may manifest in increased rates of cavities and more significant tooth decay.
Trouble with Chewing and Biting
Sometimes orthodontic problems are more because of problems with jaw alignment than the teeth themselves. That may manifest in trouble with chewing food, as the jawbones must line up for the teeth to properly chew food. Another manifestation of problems with jaw alignment is cheek biting. Improper jaw alignment can make it easier to accidentally catch the cheek between the teeth. That sort of mouth injury can lead to canker sores in addition to being quite painful at the moment.
Insecurities about Smiling and Laughing
Is your child insecure about showing their teeth when they smile? Do they try not to laugh because they don’t want people to look too closely at their mouth? Your child probably spends more time looking more closely at their mouth than anyone else. That increases the chances that they’ll notice small changes that make them less secure about smiling and laughing. Talk to your child if you notice this. There’s an excellent chance that orthodontic treatment can effectively correct the problems they feel self-conscious about.
If you notice early symptoms of orthodontic problems in your child, talk to an orthodontist about them. It is generally recommended that children see an orthodontist around age 7 so the orthodontist can monitor and identify problems that may require orthodontic intervention. Correcting orthodontic problems makes it easier to keep the teeth healthy in addition to looking better. When you look at it that way, the benefits of seeking orthodontic treatment earlier become more clear.
Have you noticed early symptoms of orthodontic problems in your child? Click here to schedule a free orthodontic consultation and exam at Stellar Family Orthodontics today!