Crooked teeth are incredibly common, and many of us dealt with this problem in our younger years. There are plenty of reasons to want to prevent crooked teeth beyond just giving yourself a more beautiful smile. By ensuring your teeth stay straight, you can improve your self esteem, prevent gum disease and cavities and make it easier to speak clearly.
Many of those who had crooked teeth as children don’t want their own children to go through the same hardships as they endured. If you want to know what you can do help your children’s teeth develop correctly, then this list is for you.

One of the key ways to prevent crooked teeth is to ensure that there is not a lot of constant pressure on the gums. Thumb sucking, pacifiers, bottle feeding at a late age and even tongue thrusting can all hurt teeth and jaw development and cause them to grow awry.
You will want to wean your child from detrimental habits such as these. By enforcing correct oral habits, you will reduce their risk for crooked teeth and gently help their teeth and jaw to develop the way they should.

Another purported cause of crooked teeth is poor dental hygiene. If your child suffers from gum disease, then the bacteria and the decay that comes with that can start to cause problems for the dormant adult teeth. If your teeth and gums are healthy, they are far more likely to develop the way they should.
You will want to instil correct dental hygiene in your children at an early age. This means making sure they brush their teeth while their teeth are still developing and before their adult teeth comes in. This will get your child into a healthy routine and establish a foundation for great oral health in the future.

If your child loses one of their permanent teeth at an early age, it can have a profound effect on their oral health in their later years. However, not all lost teeth are preventable losses. No matter what the reason for the missing tooth, it is important to do something about it. Have your child see their dentist about the missing teeth so corrections can be made for the surrounding teeth, ensuring they continue to grow properly.

There can sometimes be genetic reasons why crooked teeth may occur. If your teeth were crooked when you were growing up, there is a chance that you agree passing some undesirable oral genes on to your children. Even if they are practicing healthy oral habits, it may not be enough to prevent crooked teeth.
These healthy habits are still important, but you should also let your dentist know that about your family history of crooked teeth so early preventative measures can be taken for your children.

If you want to make it easier on your dentist to correct your children’s crooked teeth, then you need to catch the problem when it first manifests. If you catch it before they turn 10 years old, then braces may not even be necessary. Once they pass 12, however, braces are going to be the best option available.
Early warning signs of crooked teeth include trouble speaking or swallowing and an unusual facial appearance. Your dentist and your orthodontist can take steps to ensure your children’s teeth develop properly and help them avoid trouble later in life.
Your children’s crooked teeth could be caused by genetics, using pacifiers too much or just by having poor oral hygiene. However, there are steps you can take to decrease your children’s risk of developing crooked teeth. Start early in your child’s life to safeguard their oral health and make an appointment with your dentist to talk about any worries or concerns you may have. Taking these steps will not only protect your children’s teeth but also minimize the need for expensive treatment later.
At Purely Dental, our dentists have experience in the treating children. Make an apportionment with us so that your children can have the best dental care possible.