Around 200,000 children and teenagers start orthodontic treatment every year in the UK. The majority of children start treatment around the age of 12 or 13, but it’s not uncommon for treatment to start younger, especially for children who have more severe alignment issues. It’s also very common for children and teenagers to start their treatment later; there’s no age limit on orthodontic treatment!
If you think your child might need orthodontic treatment, we recommend you visit a specialist orthodontist for personalised advice you can trust.
Here are four signs your child might need orthodontic treatment.
They have poor jaw alignment
Underbites, overbites and crossbites are some of the most common types of malocclusion. These issues all relate to poor jaw alignment. When a child’s jaw is out of alignment, it can make chewing, talking and sleeping more difficult.
You can see obvious overcrowding
This is another really common type of teeth alignment issue. If your child’s adult teeth seem to be squeezed into their mouth, this may become an issue long term. Keep an eye out for teeth that overlap or teeth that seem to have turned outwards.
They lost their baby teeth too early or too late
If a child loses their baby teeth significantly earlier or later than other children, this could be a warning sign. Losing baby teeth early or late can result in adult teeth coming in unevenly.
They have a thumb sucking habit
If your child continues to suck their thumb beyond the toddler years it can affect their teeth alignment. We’d recommend paying a visit to an orthodontist to assess whether this is the case for your child.
