How do I know if my child needs braces?

[Donna]

Hi sparky moms! My name is Donna and I’m working with the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). I'm here because I would like to share some info about braces and orthodontists to parents in the network!

A lot of mommies want to know if and when their child might need braces – here are some early signs that may indicate the need to see an orthodontist:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Crowded, misplaced or blocked out teeth
• Jaws that shift or make sounds
• Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
• Grinding or clenching of the teeth
• Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face

If these are signs that your child might have, definitely see an orthodontist (who, btw have 2-3 years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth).

If anyone or their children has had braces, please post a comment and share your experiences! Also, feel free to ask questions, let's get this discussion going!

Thanks! :)

Donna
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[Donna]

I just wanted to follow up with some more information, in response to a lot of questions I’ve had Moms ask me – “when should my child seen an orthodontist?” The AAO recommends that children visit an orthodontist no later than age 7 to check on subtle problems with teeth and jaw growth.

I hope this is helpful! :)

I’ve heard a lot of varying feedback to when parents take their children to visit an orthodontist for the 1st time – at what age did you take your kids?