Help! My Kid’s Teeth Look Crooked—Should We Wait or Take Action?
It Looks Like My Child Has Crooked Teeth—what should I do?
Every Christmas, there’s a well-known song that sneaks onto the radio, making everyone smile. You know the one, the song about a girl missing her two front teeth gets stuck in our heads. It brings back memories of such an adorable stage of childhood—that gappy smile. But these little smiles, though cuter than we ever thought possible, can have a way of making us parents worry. As the adult teeth make their way in, that smile can change drastically. Sometimes these changes bring a kind of crooked appearance.
It’s common for parents to wonder whether their child’s crooked teeth will straighten out on their own. Perhaps with time, the child won’t need as much orthodontic work, if any at all. A child’s teeth can drastically impact their self-confidence as they go through adolescence, so you want to do what you can to help. But how is a parent supposed to know if that crookedness in a little one’s smile means they need early orthodontic treatment, or not? After all, when needed, early action can make a big difference to your child’s future smile.
Why Teeth Can Look Crooked in Childhood
We get used to seeing our child’s smile a certain way. For so long, they have a few teeth here or there. Then, even longer, they’ve got a full mouth of adorable little teeth. But when everything starts changing again, it can be a little nerve-wracking. Especially when the resulting smile looks a little crooked. It’s completely normal for parents to wonder if their little one fell and didn’t tell anyone about it, or if they simply haven’t been paying enough attention. Don’t panic! More than likely, that’s not the case.
There are several reasons why your child’s teeth might start to look crooked. First, you have to remember that those baby teeth are falling faster than the tooth fairy can keep up with. As the adult teeth make their way in, the combination of tooth sizes can lead to a crooked appearance.
Yes, sometimes these adult teeth will come in with plans of their own, landing at various angles throughout the smile. These teeth will push others out of the way and cause all sorts of chaos. But that’s not always the case.
It’s important to remember that your child’s jaw is still developing. As it grows and changes, so does the spacing of their teeth. Because of this, the crooked appearance of your child’s smile might even out with time.
When It’s Time to Take Action
Your child’s smile is constantly changing as they grow, but what are the signs that it might be time to take action?
As your child grows, keep an eye out for crowding issues, bite problems, or mouth breathing. These are some of the signs that braces might be beneficial for them. Crowding and bite issues can sometimes only get worse, while mouth breathing can create more problems later on.
Another thing to watch for is early or late tooth loss. If a tooth is lost too early, the neighboring teeth naturally start to shift to take its place. This is a one-way ticket to misalignments. If a baby tooth stays in place for too long, it also creates some misalignments as the adult tooth pushes everything else out of its way.
Now, don’t worry; you’re not alone in watching for any of these signs. In fact, there is an orthodontic evaluation to help you know what to expect with your child’s orthodontic future. An orthodontic evaluation is typically scheduled when a child turns 7. This is where we take an in-depth look at their smile to see how it is forming. This gives everyone a much better idea of what to expect. It also helps us create a plan to intervene early if necessary.
How Early Treatment Can Help
Hearing that your child might benefit from early orthodontic treatment can startle many parents. This early dental work is to help prevent more complex problems later on in life. Frequently, this can be in the form of space maintainers or palate expanders to help guide your child’s jaw into the proper shape and size. Without this, it’s not uncommon for them to need extensive dental work as an adult.
Crooked Teeth Can Be a Sign
Sometimes, crooked teeth can be a completely normal part of growing up, but sometimes, it can be a sign that you need to act early. Remember that you are not alone in determining if and when your child needs orthodontic care. Must Love Kids can help you every step of the way! Whether you need to schedule your child’s early orthodontic evaluation or need a regular cleaning, you can easily schedule these appointments online. We look forward to helping those little smiles shine!
