Although dental anxiety among children exists, getting your child ready for that first dental appointment is crucial. This is especially true as their baby teeth and gums develop. When you get this point in their life right, chances are, you’ve set them up for strong adult teeth and a beautiful smile.
The key is to stop any problems in their tracks once they appear, whether that’s tooth decay or misaligned teeth. The latter, in particular, can show up early in your child’s tooth development, making it quicker to treat. But if putting your child on orthodontic treatment early in the game makes you uncomfortable, there are fortunately other ways to straighten their teeth without braces.
Keep in mind that when it comes to straightening teeth without braces, time is of the essence. Misaligned teeth, as you may recall, are often the result of a mouth that’s too small to accommodate the number of teeth in it. If the mouth develops beneficially, the fewer the chances you have of getting misaligned teeth.
Children, in particular, are more receptive to this alternative to orthodontic treatment than adults are. Because their mouths are still developing, it’s easier to place the preventive measures needed for their oral health against misaligned teeth. But how can you straighten teeth without braces?
How To Start Your Child Right with the Proper Mouth Posture
As a kid, remember how your parents took a strict interest in your stance? Whether it was the way you stood, or how you sat at the table, you might’ve heard your parents say a thing or two about keeping your back straight. While it might’ve seemed like an annoyance back then, nowadays, you know that it was to make sure that your backs develop correctly.
It’s the same thing with misaligned teeth. To ensure that your child’s adult teeth grow into a beautiful smile, you have to teach your child the right oral posture. This oral posture forms the foundation of how to straighten their permanent teeth without braces.
But how do you know what’s proper oral posture? Looking at harmful dental habits and their effects can give us an idea. Here are a few things to consider:
Thumb sucking
While thumb sucking is a phase for most of us, some kids might engage in the habit a little longer. And when this happens, it can severely impact how their teeth develop or even be a major cause of malocclusions and dental infections. Children who actively suck their thumb after their teeth erupt may have protruding teeth as a result of the action.
Mouth breathing
While they’re still young, your child might be susceptible to a whole host of allergies, which makes it challenging to breathe nasally. For the most part, you can quickly treat mouth breathing by clearing up their allergies. But if your child continues to breathe through their mouths, this can affect the development of their face and teeth.
How to Straighten Teeth without Braces
Now that we know what forces can disrupt your proper mouth growth, how can you counteract this with proper oral posture?
- Remind them to keep their mouths closed when not in use. This also encourages them to breathe through their nose instead of their mouth.
- Advise your kids to keep their tongue at the roof of their mouth—as opposed to the bed or pushing at the back of the teeth. This can encourage the proper alignment of the jaws.
- Aside from this, you can also consult your child’s orthodontist for other types of orthodontic treatment that can help this alignment further. Their orthodontist might recommend a palate expander, for instance, if the teeth in the upper jaw are the problem.
Taking your child’s dental health should be as important as you take their overall health. A child’s dental habits influence the development of permanent teeth. It affects speech function and overall confidence. Beyond braces, there are many other ways to positively impact your child’s dental health.