Have you ever wondered if your child is in need of braces? It can be hard to tell exactly whether orthodontic treatment is necessary to straighten your child’s smile, but the dentist and staff at Discovery Dental in Eagle River, AK, say there are some warning signs you should look out for. This leading kids’ dentistry practice encourages parents to pay close attention to their little one’s dental health to determine if orthodontic care may be required.

To help you determine if your child needs braces, Dr. Chad Winthrop of Discovery Dental says to keep an eye out for the following indicators:

• Crowding Or Crooked Teeth: If your child’s mouth seems to be overly crowded by their teeth or they have obviously crooked or misplaced teeth, it’s highly likely they’ll need braces.
• Difficulty Chewing Or Biting: Does your child complain that it’s difficult to chew or bite or even painful to do so? This could mean their jaw is slightly out of alignment and may need to be corrected with braces. 
• Biting Their Cheeks: Children who continuously bite their cheeks and even the roof of their mouth could be dealing with an over or underbite or have other jaw alignment issues that orthodontic treatments could help solve.
• Loss Of Baby Teeth Early Or Late: If you’ve noticed your child has been losing their baby teeth at an earlier age than normal, typically before five or six years old, or if their adult teeth are making their way through before they’ve even lost their baby teeth, braces may be necessary.

Aside from the above indicators, if you have any concerns about your child’s teeth and overall oral health, take them to see a family dentist or orthodontist for an exam. Their dental care provider can tell you whether or not they’ll need braces. Most children who need braces get them between nine and 14 years of age, so if your child falls within this age group, it may be a wise idea to schedule a checkup with their dentist.

For more tips on how to tell if your child needs braces, contact Eagle River’s leading family dentist, Dr. Winthrop, by calling his office at (907) 622-5437. To learn more about his practice and what makes him the area’s best kids’ dentistry provider, visit Discovery Dental’s website.