209-575-5888As a parent, you only want the best for your child, right? Right. This probably means you want them to have the best oral health and smile. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help your child avoid having a crooked smile in the future. Our orthodontist, Dr. Joti Kaler, is happy to tell you all about them.
The first way is by keeping an eye on your child’s oral fixation habits. If your child sucks their thumb, thrusts their tongue, or uses a pacifier, their smile can be prone to misalignment. This is because these habits place undue pressure on the teeth, forcing them to shift out of alignment. It’s best to help your child curb these habits, and if you need help doing so, you can always talk to our orthodontist.
The second way is by bringing your child into our office at an early age. If you bring your child into our office early only (typically around age 7), our orthodontist will be able to examine the mouth and see if everything is on the right track. If there are issues visible, she will give you the tips you need to help your child’s smile stay straight and healthy.
The third way is by using space maintainers. These devices can work wonders. They are typically beneficial when your child’s mouth starts to get crowded. This is common because the 20 baby teeth are replaced by 32 permanent teeth and their jaws are still so small. The space maintainers can help keep their teeth in place as well as save space for the incoming permanent teeth. This can help your child avoid overlapping and crooked teeth.
If you have any questions or if you would like to know more about how to prevent tooth misalignments in your child, please call our orthodontic team in Modesto, California. We are more than happy to give you the tips and information you need to succeed!