Preventing Crooked Teeth in Children
Children’s teeth are constantly developing. If you are concerned that your child’s teeth may appear to be crowded or crooked, you may not realize how much opportunity there is to prevent misalignment (or crooked teeth) and even to improve the proper alignment and growth of teeth. The reality is that the dentin, bone and enamel of teeth are far less stable than we would like to imagine. And while genetics certainly plays a part in children developing crooked teeth, certain bad habits can also lead to problematic dental issues such as dental crowding, under-bites and overbites.
Thankfully many of these concerns can be monitored and treated early on by Rogers, AR, pediatric dentist, Dr. Brent Caple, and his team of pediatric dental professionals. The earlier that dental professionals are able to examine and diagnose potential troubles in your child’s development, the better the chance for intervention.
Why are crooked teeth in children a cause for concern?
Crooked or misaligned teeth and bite in children can cause a variety of problems, including: difficulty eating properly, latency in speech development or other speech problems, social anxiety, excessive wear, and, if left untreated, eventually may result in necessary and costly orthodontic or dental treatment.
How to prevent my child from developing crooked teeth?
While crooked teeth or a misaligned bite cannot always be prevented, some steps can be taken to help protect your child from the development of dental issues that might not otherwise occur. To help prevent crooked teeth in children, follow the tips below.
Discourage Thumb Sucking
Did you know that thumb sucking can begin in the womb before a baby is even born? Many children use thumb sucking as a comforting tool or to soothe sore gums while they are teething. While most children grow out of the phase between the ages of two and four, if the habit continues once the child’s permanent teeth begin to erupt, problems can start to develop. These can include damage to the roof of a child’s mouth, a misalignment of the front teeth, a narrowing of the upper jaw and the development of an overbite or open-bite.
When it comes to preventing cooked teeth as a result of thumb sucking, it is important to try to break the habit early on so that it does not create problems. One tip for discouraging thumb sucking, is to offer an engaging toy to play with at times when you notice your child wanting to suck on their thumb. If your child’s thumb sucking does become a concern, talk to your dentist for more help.
Encourage Good Oral Health
Another leading cause of crooked teeth in children is thought to be the result of poor dental hygiene. Poor dental hygiene can lead to issues like gum disease. Baby teeth contain less dense enamel than that of permanent teeth, which causes baby teeth to be extremely susceptible to cavities.
When gum disease is present in young children, decay and bacteria can penetrate the gums and start to affect the dormant adult teeth as well. With proper oral hygiene and regular visits to a pediatric dentist, healthy teeth and gums are more likely to develop correctly, which is why developing good dental hygiene habits early is so important.
Establishing proper oral hygiene routines when baby teeth first erupt helps build long-term habits to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Prior to the first tooth’s appearance, parents can even begin these daily routines by gently cleansing the baby’s gums with a soft, clean washcloth in the morning and evening. As primary teeth begin to emerge, parents should brush teeth gently, which cleans the teeth but also helps the child become familiar and comfortable with the process. By the time a child is three years of age, he or she should have regular oral hygiene habits including parent-assisted brushing and flossing. Brushing should continue with adult supervision until a child is about seven or eight years old.
Part of encouraging good oral health is also introducing your child to their dentist and beginning to establish a “dental home” at a pediatric dental office near you. Parents may also consider bringing their child along to their own dental appointments in order to set a positive example and let them know that a visit to the dentist is an important part of being healthy.
Be Aware Of Bruxism
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can also lead to crooked or misaligned teeth. Often bruxism is a symptom of stress, and just like adults, children can also be victims of stress. Some children lose sleep and others may grind their teeth when they are sleeping. Tooth grinding generally occurs at night making the problem difficult to notice. However, the problem can be serious such that tooth enamel can wear down over time, teeth can start to shift or the child’s bite may start to change.
Common symptoms of bruxism in children include: complaining of jaw pain, headaches, pain or discomfort when eating, or grinding noises while your child sleeps. If your child complains of any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with Dr. Caple or discuss your concerns during your next visit. A pediatric dentist can diagnose bruxism based on a physical exam and by evaluating symptoms, which can allow for the appropriate treatment plan to be prescribed in order to prevent complications or expensive orthodontic treatment in the future. Depending on the diagnosis, a custom mouth guard may be recommended to stop your child’s jaws grinding and clenching while they are sleeping.
Avoid Missing Teeth!
Although the majority of children begin the process of losing their baby teeth around the ages of 5 or 6, teeth are sometimes lost early due to injury or necessary extraction as a result of decay. Whatever the reason for early tooth loss, a pediatric dentist may recommend a space maintainer to help prevent alignment issues from developing.
A space maintainer is a device made of stainless steel or plastic that can be cemented onto a surrounding tooth or work like a removable retainer. The maintainer takes up the space between the two teeth in order to maintain the necessary space for the permanent tooth to come in when it is ready. Not all teeth that are lost early require space maintainers, but Dr. Caple may recommend a space maintainer if the permanent tooth is not yet ready to come in or if a permanent tooth is missing.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Avoiding certain habits is a great first step in terms of reducing early tooth misalignment. However, many variables can contribute to a child having crooked teeth, and treatment options, like braces, may be a necessity in order to fix the problem. However, preventing crooked or misaligned teeth in children may be possible. That is why introducing dental hygiene early and booking in regular dental check-ups with your Rogers, Arkansas pediatric dentist are so important. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
If your child has crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, schedule an appointment with Dr. Brent Caple at our Rogers, AR, pediatric dental office. With over 27 years of experience in pediatric dentistry in Northwest Arkansas, Dr. Caple offers parents trustworthy advice and provides compassionate, experienced care for children of all ages.