The oral health of babies is essential with regards to their adult life. Simply put, good dental health and hygiene will provide a child with healthy teeth and gums later in life. So, you should be concerned about your child’s dental hygiene right from the moment their teeth begin to erupt.
A baby may develop poorly aligned teeth due to some unique factors. Although you may not have come across a child with one, it’s pretty common. However, most of the time, it resolves on its own without any medical procedure.
This article examines different aspects of teeth alignment in children, including treatment and management of misaligned teeth in kids.
What Are the Causes of Crooked Teeth in Children?
Having crooked teeth as an infant is primarily due to genetics. It's a given that a child born with the big teeth of one parent and a small jaw from the other will have a crowded mouth.
This combination of factors is often the cause of crooked teeth and their accompanying issues. So, parents with tooth malformations should brace themselves because it’s most likely going to occur in their child.
Misalignment of the teeth may also result from an infant's habit of sucking their thumb. However, most parents think of this baby action as a relief aid since they don’t cry while thumb-sucking.
A child's teeth get overcrowded due to sucking on their thumb, which puts pressure on both the upper and lower jaws. So, unknowingly, parents put their baby’s dental health at risk by overlooking this.
The Future Implications of Crooked Teeth in Babies
The bottom front teeth, which often resemble the letter V, are very likely to be crooked in babies because of the pressure they put on them while sucking. Sometimes, you may also notice that the top teeth are more prominent or appear earlier than the lower teeth. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t worry about your child's dental health based on any of these findings solely.
This is because, in practice, it’s hard to predict what your child's adult teeth will look like based on just their baby teeth appearance. Visiting a dentist might relieve you of any fear you might have. Also, if there’ll be misaligned teeth in the future, an early alignment correction should preclude that.
Teeth Misalignment Treatment for Babies
So, what should you do if you notice that your baby has crooked teeth? Well, there are some steps that you should take to prevent any future problems with your child’s dentition.
The best way to determine how much orthodontic treatment your child will require is to have them visit an orthodontist. Don’t make any hasty decisions or devise methods to correct their teeth on your own. A trip to the dentist will reveal all that you need to do.
If your dentist notices any abnormalities in your baby's mouth, they’ll be able to provide a treatment plan. A piece of removable retainer-like equipment that helps form the mouth's arches is the common solution for alignment problems in babies. It provides a healthy environment for developing teeth, and it’s available for children as young as 3 years old.
How to Prevent Alignment Issues in Babies
If, as an adult, you have genetics-induced crooked teeth, there may be little you can do to fix them. However, if you want to prevent it in your child, you can take steps to reduce the risk of misaligned teeth. It involves restricting your baby from sucking on their pacifier or their thumb.
Although most children enjoy this, it may cause problems with their tooth development. Also, limit the use of pacifiers. Most medical practitioners are of this opinion as they advise that babies older than 12 months shouldn’t use pacifiers. Thumb sucking may continue, but it should stop at least until the child's first set of adult teeth are visible.
As you care for your baby's teeth, keep in mind that your child needs to have a favorable outlook on dental visits. Teach your children the importance of good dental hygiene; you can start by taking your baby along when visiting your dentist. After they’re comfortable with the visits, they can begin regular checkups with a specialist.
How Often Should You Take Your Child to the Dentist?
Typically, you should schedule dental checkups twice a year, except when you notice that your child has problems with their teeth. However, your child should have an orthodontic evaluation when they’re 7 or 8 years old. This is important because at this age, an orthodontist can monitor their upper and lower jaw growth, as well as their deciduous and permanent teeth.
It’s possible to make space-saving or space-maintenance considerations, as well as considerations for jaw growth.
Wrap Up
Dental hygiene doesn’t begin when you start having problems with your teeth in adulthood. It should begin as soon as a child is born. Most alignment issues expressed in adulthood occur because of poor oral care in childhood. So, you should closely monitor the deciduous phase of your child’s teeth.
For already established malformations, there’s no need to worry because Straight Teeth Invisible has developed a perfect solution. Our transparent teeth aligner is a piece of dental equipment that restores your alignment without compromising your appearance like braces.
In addition, this alignment option is relatively cheaper compared to braces and is removable for easy cleaning. For further inquiries, kindly fill out our free e-consultation form by providing the necessary pictures for review by our team of expert dental professionals.
FAQ
Will my baby’s teeth straighten out?
Poorly aligned teeth in your baby can provoke worry and fear. However, you should set your panic aside because it’s most likely going to resolve independently. However, confirming with a dentist may put your mind at ease.
How can I fix my child’s poor tooth alignment?
Teeth aligning equipment like braces or transparent aligners restore proper alignment. They provide the desired alignment because of their pressure on the teeth. For kids who will wear braces, they must come equipped with wire, rubber bands, and brackets.
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