It can happen to anyone, regardless of age.
Your teeth are growing and adjusting to the shape of your mouth, and your smile doesn’t look as bright as it should. Your teeth are crooked and misaligned, and you don’t know what to do about it.
How can you know if braces are the right choice for you?
Here are just a few signs that you may need braces.
What Are Braces For?
Braces are an incredibly useful tool that helps align your teeth and shape your mouth.
By applying pressure to your teeth over an extended amount of time, they can change the way that your teeth grow to make your smile brighter and healthier. Without braces, your teeth may grow in peculiar ways and cause pain and discomfort later in life.
The time that braces stay on depends on the individual, and how their teeth are aligned; braces are generally left on for anywhere between one to three years and are often followed by the use of retainers to promote healthy growth for the future.
While braces themselves may cause a slight amount of discomfort, the benefits that they provide far outweigh their cons. It may take a while to adjust to life with braces, but after that, it’s smooth sailing.
Made with a variety of different materials and colors, braces can be customized to suit both your needs and style. They can even be made as a clear mouth guard or be placed behind the teeth if you would prefer for them not to be seen.
Not only will braces adjust the shape of your teeth, but they can also help to align the jaw and shape the face. If left untreated for too long, misaligned teeth can cause discomfort in the jaw. This is because the teeth grow in such a way that they permanently change the shape and structure of the jawline, leading to pain and discomfort.
Signs That Your Child/Teen May Need Braces
Overall, braces are not only a good fix for appearances, but they can overall improve the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth by realigning your teeth and reshaping your mouth, leaving you with a better smile! Contacting your local orthodontist is a great way to help your child feel more comfortable with their smile.
1. Discomfort While Eating
If your child shows obvious pain or discomfort while chewing, it may be a sign that they need an orthodontist.
Should your regular dentist not find any issues with cavities or other causes of tooth pain, contact your local orthodontist and make an appointment to see what choices are right for you.
2. Crooked or Misplaced Teeth
One obvious sign that braces are needed is that your child’s teeth are growing in at strange angles. Misaligned teeth aren’t only a cosmetic issue, but they can make brushing and flossing more difficult and potentially cause cavities and tooth decay.
If your child’s teeth are growing over one another, or if the teeth seem too close together in general, braces may be the right decision.
3. Losing Baby Teeth at Strange Times
If your child loses their teeth earlier or later than expected, or if the timing between teeth is irregular, it could be a sign that their teeth will grow out of place. Teeth growing at bizarre rates can interact poorly with one another, leading to misalignment or discomfort.
4. Strange Gaps Between Teeth
Along with teeth overlapping each other, if there are strangely large gaps between your child’s teeth, they may need braces to help them grow closer together.
5. Your Jaw Shifts or Makes Strange Sounds
If your child’s jaw is popping or cracking regularly, their teeth may have grown to the point where they’ve caused harm to their jaw structure.
Realigning your teeth may help to fix their jaw shape as well and get rid of the odd noises and discomfort.
6. Constantly Biting the Inside of Your Mouth
Misaligned teeth that aren’t visible when speaking can often cause you to bite the inside and roof of your mouth. If you find that your child tends to accidentally bite their tongue or cheek frequently, you may want to contact your orthodontist to see if they need braces.
7. Consistent Mouth Breathing
While this is a more subtle sign, and may not be related to teeth at all, a consistent need to breathe through your mouth instead of your nose may be a sign that your teeth are misaligned. This is due to it being too uncomfortable for you to keep your mouth closed to breathe through your nose.
While not always a sign of tooth problems, if you find that your teen has trouble with either closing their mouth or breathing through their nose, you may want to contact an orthodontist about getting braces.
Are Kids the Only Ones Who Need Braces?
While it is most common for kids and teenagers to be seen wearing braces, it is not something that only children need. Adult braces are a growing trend, especially for those who could not get them as children.
Your mouth will constantly be growing and changing shape, and even adults may find that their teeth have grown in unexpected or uncomfortable ways. If you find that any of the above issues apply to you, you may want to contact an orthodontist for yourself to fix the problem.
Brighter, Better Smiles Ahead
Knowing whether or not your children need braces can help put them on the path to a healthier, happier, and more comfortable smile. With properly aligned teeth, they will feel more confident in their appearance and keep their teeth healthy!
What have you learned from these tips? Have you or your child used braces?
We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories!
Comment down below with your experiences using braces for yourself, or your child’s experiences.
You can also read more of our blog for additional health tips!
