Investing in braces at an early age helps to establish an adequate bite, which supports proper chewing and speech development. It can also prevent further oral health issues, such as gum disease and tooth decay. Having braces for kids helps improve the quality of their chewing, which makes dental hygiene easier. Crooked teeth can trap bits of food and lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and other dental problems.

Orthodontic treatments now offer a variety of options. From traditional metal braces to clear ceramic brackets and lingual braces, kids can now choose the treatment that suits their personalities best.

1. Improved Oral Health

Children often need braces when their teeth or jaws are misaligned. Depending on the severity of the case, an orthodontist might recommend removable braces that can be taken out when playing sports and for eating. Children who suck their thumb or finger may also benefit from wearing braces, as this can pull out baby teeth and lead to early or irregular tooth loss, which can cause dental alignment issues.

Properly aligned teeth facilitate effective chewing, which promotes better nutrient absorption and overall digestive health. Misaligned teeth and jaws can also contribute to speech and pronunciation problems, such as lisping and mumbling. By addressing these issues in childhood, an orthodontist can prevent them from developing into more serious conditions later in life. Early treatment can also save kids from dental trauma, such as injuries from sports or falls that could lead to costly and complicated orthodontic treatments.

2. Better Chewing

Kids who have a thumb sucking habit will often need braces to stop the habit early, as it pulls out baby teeth and prevents adult teeth from coming in properly. A clinician will advise on the best treatment to break the thumb sucking habit.

The orthodontist may use clear, ceramic braces that are less observable than metal ones, which can help children feel more confident about their smile. Try to encourage your child to eat soft foods such as pasta, mashed potatoes, soup, and smooth puddings. They can also eat fruit, vegetables and scrambled eggs, but avoid any crunchy snacks that could catch on their braces or break their brackets.

3. Prevent Dental Trauma

Kids that have protruding front teeth, such as those with an overbite or buck teeth, are more susceptible to dental trauma. Visiting your orthodontist in Manchester early on and having them correct their bite alignment with braces can reduce the risk of these injuries during childhood and adolescence.

Crooked or overlapping teeth can hide food particles and create pockets that are difficult to clean. This can lead to cavities and gum disease. Braces make it easier to maintain optimal oral hygiene, reducing the risk of these conditions.

An orthodontist can also help your child develop strategies to prevent dental trauma during sports, including wearing a mouth guard. This can significantly reduce the chances of an injury to their teeth and jaw. They can even recommend a treatment option such as clear aligners, which are virtually invisible and allow for more flexibility with food choices and oral hygiene.

4. Improved Self-Esteem

The best way to boost a child’s self-esteem is to make them feel good about their smile. Kids with crooked teeth or gaps between teeth will often hide their smiles, but braces close these gaps so they can proudly display their smiles.

Traditional metal braces with steel wires and brackets are still the most common treatment option. They can be customized with colored rubber bands to reflect a child’s personality or style.

Ceramic braces are a less noticeable version of traditional braces with clear brackets. They are more fragile and require more time to clean, but they can help a child to blend in with their peers better than metal braces. Lingual braces are even less conspicuous as they place the brackets and wires behind a patient’s teeth.

5. Better Sleep

Orthodontic care is about more than crafting a perfect smile; it offers a variety of advantages, including improved health and wellbeing. Getting braces at an early age, ideally around the age of 8, can set kids on the path for a lifetime of good oral and overall health.

Misaligned teeth and jaws aren’t just unsightly; they can also cause functional problems. This is particularly true for chewing and speaking, which are both made more difficult by malocclusions like overbite, underbite, crossbite, and overcrowding.

Correcting these malocclusions makes it easier for kids to chew and digest their food. It also makes it less likely that they’ll chip or crack their teeth in the future. Plus, when the mouth closes properly, it can better produce saliva to prevent dry mouth, which can lead to gum disease and other issues.