Getting braces is a rite of passage for many teens. It’s estimated that approximately 80% of US teens will see an orthodontist for some sort of orthodontic treatment, and 31% have had braces or clear aligners as adults.
Funny Stories
How many of you have had dental braces? I’m sure every person out there who has had braces can tell you some embarrassing or funny stories.
- One time my friend came over to do homework, and I greeted them at the door with a big smile. My friend said, “Um, you need to brush your teeth. You’ve got black stuff stuck in your braces.” (I was eating olives).
- Or the drool issues I had as my teeth moved and I had temporary gaps in between my two front teeth. Many times, when I opened my mouth to speak, laugh, or yawn, drool just fell out. I seemed to have no control over it.
- Or the most embarrassing time when one of those annoying little rubber bands accidentally shot out of my mouth and hit my friend in the face.
- And last but not least, the time I got my sweater stuck in my braces and ended up ruining the sweater with a big hole while trying to get it unstuck.
Or, maybe it was just me, and these things never happened to anyone else? I’d had my braces on for two years, and I remember begging my orthodontist to take them off. I was done with it all. Luckily, so was the orthodontist, as the braces were taken off at the next appointment. What a feeling of freedom that was! Fun times.
What is the best age to start evaluating kids for braces?
The AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) says that children around age 7 should come in for their first orthodontic checkup. At this point, they have a mix of baby and adult teeth. They won’t need braces yet, but the dentist can look for jaw or bite issues. If something seems off about your child’s bite or teeth, you do not have to wait until the age of 7 to take them to an orthodontist. This is just the standard time frame to see kids.
Then, between the ages of 7-10, they may use orthodontic tools such as expanders if your child has severe teeth crowding or a crossbite.
When do most kids start wearing braces?
Most children need braces between the ages of 9 and 14. The most common age is between 11 and 13, as most of their permanent teeth have arrived by that point. Your kids’ jaws are still growing, which makes it easier for braces to adjust their teeth and correct the position.
Worrisome Warning Signs
How will you know that you need to take your child to see an orthodontist?
If you’re taking your child to see the dentist on a regular schedule, they will usually tell you when you need to take your child to see an orthodontist.
But here are some other signs you might notice yourself.
- Clicking: Your child’s jaw is clicking or shifting due to bite problems. They could complain about pain in their jaw area too.
- Biting their cheek: If your child complains about biting their cheeks (accidentally) regularly. They may have a bite issue.
- Chewing issues: Chewing food should never be painful.
- Breathing through mouth: Some orthodontic problems can be caused by mouth breathing.
- Baby teeth issues: Losing baby teeth too early or too late can cause problems.
- Underbite or overbite issues: When the lower jaw is bigger than the upper jaw, this is called mandibular prognathism. Overbite is when the upper teeth excessively overhang the lower teeth.
- Other facial imbalances: The jaw and teeth can affect the chin, lips, and other facial features.
How can an orthodontist help my child even if there is no visible problem?
Your child may need treatment in the future, and your orthodontist will want to monitor the continued growth of their jaw and face. Most orthodontists offer free consultations and early evaluations.
There are different types of orthodontic braces to help straighten teeth and jaws. An orthodontist will go over all the options available for your child.