For children, early orthodontic treatment can be the key to a lifelong healthy smile. Braces can shape your child’s facial and jaw development, ensuring the teeth have enough room to create an ideal smile. Early treatment ensures that future problems can be minimized or even completely mitigated. If you notice any of the following warning signs, don’t hesitate to schedule your child’s first orthodontic visit to address his needs as soon as possible.

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Difficulty Chewing or Talking
Misaligned teeth and jaws don’t fit together properly. Malocclusions hinder your child’s ability to bite, chew, and even speak properly. Your child may have a speech impediment and frequently bite the tongue or inside of his cheek. He may hold food a certain way to make biting and chewing easier. If you notice any of these signs, contact an orthodontist for an evaluation of your child’s teeth.

Visual Indications
A visual inspection of your child’s teeth can help identify the need for orthodontic care. Protruding or crooked teeth are signs that you should consult an orthodontist. Also consider the shape of your child’s jaw and facial features. You may be able to see that his jaw is not properly shaped or aligned and that this feature does not fit with the rest of his face. Orthodontic treatment will help correct this issue and ensure his teeth and jaws align as they should.

Detrimental Habits
Some children suffer from habits such as prolonged thumb sucking or tooth grinding. While thumb sucking is perfectly safe for young children, this habit can cause orthodontic problems if it persists past the age of six. Similarly, tooth grinding may be an indication that the teeth do not mesh as they should, and treatment is needed to avoid wear and pain due in the future.

Early orthodontic treatment can have your child smiling brightly and without worry. Call Seligman Orthodontics of Park Avenue at (646) 681-8516 to schedule a consultation. You can discover more about dental health and orthodontic care on our website.