While the reason behind your child's crooked teeth remains largely unknown, studies suggest that crooked teeth are caused by the soft foods humans eat today and the fact that human jaws are narrower than ancestors of thousands of years ago. Without room in the mouth for all the teeth your child has and the possibility that chewing softer foods causes changes in your child's palate, it's no wonder that their teeth may end up crooked. Genetics are also a large factor in crooked teeth, which means in the end you can do little to prevent this malformation in your child's mouth, but there is certainly something you can do to correct it. Here are 2 ways to treat your child's crooked teeth without traditional braces.
Retainer
If your child's teeth are only slightly crooked or they simply have a gap between them, a retainer may be all they need to correct their issue. Your child's orthodontist can have a mold made of your child's palate, and will take measurements of their teeth to create a custom retainer they wear for a certain amount of time until the issue is resolved. Some retainers are implanted into your child's mouth and do not come out until the orthodontist orders their removal. Talk to your orthodontist about this option.
Custom trays
Some children are worried about getting braces for fear they will become unattractive or get made fun of at school. If your child needs braces, they can get custom-fitted trays instead. These trays are similar to teeth-whitening trays, and serve to gently shift your child's teeth to their correct positions over time. This is a great alternative to traditional braces, as these straightening trays are nearly transparent and difficult to see, which means your child can go to school and hang out with their friends without feeling like they are wearing braces.
As your child's teeth straighten out, they will need to have new custom trays fitted to their teeth until the process is complete. Your child's orthodontist can recommend this option to you if your child's teeth are not severely crooked and are likely to respond well to this type of treatment.
If you are worried about your child's crooked teeth but don't want them to have to wear braces, there are options available to you. Talk to your child's orthodontist to see what types of orthodontic treatments will work well for their dental needs.
Share8 November 2015
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.