How do I know if my child needs orthodontic care?

If your child has visibly crooked teeth, there may be more serious orthodontic issues. But what other less obvious signs should we as parents look out for that might be issues for our child’s oral development?

Here are some warning signs that may lead to orthodontic issues:

Bite

• Your child has an overbite:
  • Your child’s upper teeth overlap the lower teeth by more than 5 millimetres.
  • Your child’s top front teeth cover more than the bottom by 25 percent.
• Your child has an underbite:
  • When biting, your child’s top front teeth go behind the bottom teeth.
• Your child has a crossbite:
  • One or more teeth tilts outward toward the cheek, or inward to the tongue. This causes unwanted stress on the jawbone.
• The center of your child’s top and bottom teeth don’t align.
• Your child has trouble biting or chewing.
• Your child chronically bites the roof of the mouth or inner cheek.

Jaw

• Your child’s jaw protrudes, or recedes, too much
• Your child’s jaw moves to one side when biting or chewing.
• Your child experiences clicking in the jaw joints.
• Your child experiences pain in the jaws.

Other

• Your child breathes through the mouth chronically
• Your child is six years’ old and still have oral habits such as thumb-sucking
• Your child is frequently clenching or grinding her/his teeth.
• Your child finds it challenging to speak or enunciate clearly.
• Your child has baby teeth growing too early than the norm.
• There is apparent uneven wearing of your child’s teeth.
• Your child’s facial structure is asymmetrical.

If you notice you or your child experiencing any of these signs, there may be a risk of orthodontic issues. Book an appointment to see us. The earlier you resolve these issues the better!