4 Facts Parents Should Know About Braces for Children

Do you know enough about oral health to protect your children from dental issues?

According to The Independent, recent studies convey that millions of UK parents are jeopardizing their children’s oral health with their lack of dental care knowledge.

Research highlights that a quarter of adults ignore cavities in their children’s mouths, nearly a third only take their children to the dentist for the first time once all milk teeth have appeared and more than half stop helping children brush their teeth too early.

Another overlooked issue in child dental care are parents who do not consider orthodontic treatment for their children.

To keep your children’s oral health in top form, Hampstead Orthodontic Practice will enlighten you on the benefits of braces for children.

1. Improving Children’s Oral Hygiene

Beyond aesthetic purposes, orthodontic treatment can be crucial for your child’s oral health and confidence.

Oral hygiene involves the practice of maintaining a clean mouth with regular brushing and cleaning of the teeth, gums, and tongue to keep it smelling fresh and free from residue.

Teaching children good oral health habits and competent teeth-brushing at an early age is essential for long-term oral health.

However, upon checking if they’ve missed a few spots, you’ll find more unbrushed areas if your child suffers from crooked teeth, as it’s harder to clean if their teeth are crooked,  uneven, or rotated.

Poorly cleaned teeth can result in plaque and bacteria buildup, which will lead to dental issues, such as cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.

Straight teeth can be cleaned properly, as access to all areas of the mouth is easy, allowing your child to have an easy teeth-cleaning routine and better oral hygiene.

2. Boosting Children’s Digestive Health

A commonly overlooked benefit of braces for children is the ability to chew properly for improved digestion.

Misaligned teeth, especially an overbite or underbite, prevents proper chewing and will damage the enamel.

As well as providing your child with a nutritious packed-lunch, an aligned jaw with proper contact between the upper and lower teeth will enable proper chewing for better digestion, helping them gain the sufficient nutrients from their food that is required for healthy bodily growth.

Chewing properly is also great for saliva flow, which helps to wash away food particles and bacteria, meaning less chance of plaque build-up and tooth decay.

3. The Best Age to Get Braces

Taking regular trips to the dentist is crucial for keeping your child’s oral health in top form.

But taking your child to an orthodontist at an early age can help prevent severe long-term dental issues.

Although braces are for all ages, the American Association Orthodontists recommended that children get their first orthodontic screening at aged 7, as braces are more effective on children whose bones are still developing.

Whether it be an overbite, irregular loss of baby teeth, or limited room for the eruption of permanent teeth, an orthodontist is able to detect whether your child is in need of orthodontic treatment now, or in the future, upon assessing their teeth early.

Solving the issue sooner rather than later can shorten or simplify future treatments, and the little one will appreciate it when they grow up!

4. Getting Braces for Your Kid

Braces are great for improving your child’s appearance, confidence, dental issues, and providing good oral health.

Orthodontic treatment can protect your child from various dental-related illnesses and emotional distress in the future.

It is important for parents to be vigilant to the various signs that will show you if your child needs braces, such as excessive thumb sucking, speech impediments (e.g., lisps) and protruding teeth.

If you believe your child may need orthodontic treatment, book a consultation and contact Hampstead Orthodontic Practice today, to get the ball rolling with great oral health for your child!