Nothing is more precious than your little one’s beautiful smile. Their teeth are influential to their oral health and development. Unfortunately, issues with their primary and adult teeth can affect their general wellness negatively. Here’s how fixing bite and alignment problems can prevent your little one from potential health concerns.
Improved Oral Health
Oral and overall health are connected. Misaligned teeth are more difficult to keep clean, increasing your child’s risk of cavities and gum disease, which can affect their wellness. Fixing alignment issues makes brushing and flossing more effective, lessening their risk of preventable problems.
Better Oral Functions
Did you know that digestion starts in the mouth? Grinding food into small pieces makes it easier to digest. However, if your little one has bite issues, biting and chewing can be difficult, which can affect their digestion. A properly balanced bite will promote your child’s oral functions to ensure they can eat a variety of nutritious foods to support their growth and development.
Resolve Jaw Pain
If the upper and lower teeth don’t come together correctly, it can put pressure on the temporomandibular joints, which are located just in front of the ears. TMJ disorders can affect children, not just adults. Fixing bite problems can save your child from jaw pain and other issues caused by TMD, like headaches or neck pain.
Stop Teeth Grinding
An improper bite can cause your child to grind or clench their teeth. This can cause enamel loss and damage their teeth over time. Correcting their bite can stop them from clenching their teeth to preserve their pearly whites. As a result, they are less likely to need costly dental work later.
Avoid Dental Emergencies
Tilted, protruding, and rotated teeth can take the force of an impact if your child suffers a dental injury. This can increase their risk of dental emergencies. Properly aligned teeth can lessen their risk, along with wearing an athletic mouthguard when playing sports.
Children should have their first orthodontic consultation around the age of 6. Their pediatric dentist can spot potential concerns before they turn into big problems. Addressing them early will lessen your child’s risk of needing extensive dental work later on. A straight smile will support their general health and development while ensuring they feel confident about their appearance.
About Dr. Adriana Rosato
Dr. Rosato is a board-certified pediatric dentist and a member of the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, as well as many other professional organizations. In addition to her training in pediatric dentistry, she has experience in trauma, special needs patients, orthodontics, and restorative dentistry. Request an appointment through her website or call her office at (510) 796-8888.