Milk Teeth Crooked? Here’s What To Do

We’re in the National Children’s Dental Health month, meaning that we’ll constantly be updating you with helpful tips on your baby’s dental care and answer all your questions about their teeth.

In this piece, we’ll discuss why some babies’ teeth become crooked and point out suitable solutions to this problem.

What Causes Misaligned Teeth in Babies?

Misaligned teeth are often genetic. At times, a kid inherits the larger teeth of their father and the smaller jaw of their mother. Yes! Your teeth orientation could make or break your child’s looks.

When this is the case, teeth start fighting for a position due to a lack of sufficient space for them in the arch of the mouth. Many times, this causes crowding.

Another cause of crooked teeth could be the baby’s habit of sticking their fingers in the mouth. A thumb-sucking baby will tightly put its thumb between the lower and upper teeth when the mouth is closed. This induces pressure on the upper front teeth, pushing them out. Concurrently, the lower teeth get pushed back to the mouth, which leads to crowding. At times, extra teeth grow, and crowding happens due to lack of enough room.

Ways to Prevent and Solve Crooked Teeth in Your Child

If you’re noticing spaces between your kid’s milk teeth, that’s not a good sign. Should the teeth be crowded, then it’s likely that their permanent teeth will also be crowded. You do not have to wait for adult teeth to grow to do something about your baby’s Milk teeth being crooked. Below are a few quick tips that work.

#Prevention Tip 1: Visit Your Dentist Regularly

When your child starts growing milk teeth, you must start taking them to your dentist regularly. Not only will your dentist help your baby’s teeth stay clean, but also will they keep an eye on your child’s inbound adult teeth. In case the teeth aren’t coming straight, the dentist can refer you to an orthodontist.

The best option around this is a pediatric dentist since you’ll be sending your kids to the dentist at a young age. Pediatric dentists specialize in dental care for kids, with two to three years of extra training to focus on pediatrics. A good pediatric dentist will know how to relate to children well and recognize and solve bad habits while making dentistry fun.

Prevention Tip 2: Correct Bad Habits

Correcting some bad habits can go a long way in making your child’s teeth come in straight. For example, pacifiers – despite being suitable for soothing your child and providing health benefits for infants – can make your child’s teeth grow incorrectly. By the time your baby gets to two years, you should have weaned him off the pacifier.

Thumb sucking is another huge instigator of crooked teeth. Although thumb-sucking may seem a natural and safer alternative to pacifiers, pacifiers are more recommendable than thumbs. This is according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. It is easier to control the use of pacifiers than thumb-sucking.

Visiting an Orthodontist is A Sure Way of Solving Your Baby’s Crooked Milk Teeth

The sooner your baby visits an orthodontist, the earlier their treatment will start. Earlier treatment means lower costs and an easy time fixing your baby’s bite.

In some cases, an orthodontist may recommend a two-phase milk teeth arrangement treatment plan. The first stage starts early when the baby has most of their baby teeth. Braces could be recommended during the first treatment phase, where the orthodontist will provide you with the required appliances early enough.

Several appliances may be used at an early age to ease and fasten orthodontic treatment when the child gets to their teenage. For example, tongue spurs cut down thumb sucking and tongue movement that could disorient their teeth. A palatal expander is suitable for correcting a bite or creating space for new teeth.

The second treatment phase happens when the child has gained most of all their permanent teeth. At this phase, braces are used to correct the bite and crooked teeth. Treatment with braces typically lasts 18 to 36 months. It is essential for your baby to take good care of their braces and teeth, since the better they treat them, the lesser the time they’ll have to wear them.

Let A Reputable Orthodontic Center Correct Your Child’s Teeth

Are you looking for more advice on what to do with your child’s crooked teeth? Visit us at the Wilmington Orthodontic Center. We are conveniently located east of downtown Wilmington and have all it takes to restore your baby’s teeth alignment. Not only do we work with trained pediatric dentists who have a deep passion for working with children, but we also have a skilled orthodontist – Dr. Nancy Pancko – on our team. 

Contact us today and kick-start your baby’s journey to having an admirable teeth arrangement.