If you’re a parent considering getting your child braces in Portland, then our staff at Senestraro Family Orthodontics is here to help. While it’s easy to think of orthodontic treatment for its cosmetic benefits, there are several other compelling reasons why getting your child braces might be just as important to his or her health. To help you understand the difference braces can make to a child’s long-term oral and overall health, here are a few of the many benefits associated with orthodontic treatment.
Helps Prevent Tooth Decay
Kids who suffer from crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth have a hard time adequately brushing and flossing. Some surfaces of your child’s teeth may not receive exposure to fluoride or be properly cleaned during daily hygiene. This can increase your child’s risk of developing tooth decay and cavities, and require more intrusive dental work, like fillings and root canals, that cost money and cause discomfort.
Helps Prevent Heart Disease
As strange as this may seem, wearing braces during childhood could actually lower the risk of heart disease during adulthood. That’s because research has found compelling links between heart disease and oral diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease. When we fail to remove plaque from the surface of our teeth, a task made much harder when teeth are crooked or crowded together, it builds up and transforms into tartar. An accumulation of harmful oral bacteria, tartar causes gum tissue to become inflamed which leads to the development of early-stage gum disease called gingivitis. The disease causes gums to crack, which then allows oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream where it then travels to the heart, and is known to increase the risk of heart disease.
Helps Prevent the Development of Other Health Problems
Overbite, underbite, and other forms of misaligned teeth can cause a variety of moderate to severe health complications. Poor jaw position can cause ear or headaches, chewing or biting problems, speech impediments, or even TMJ.
Helps Improve Self-Esteem
The better looking your child’s smile, the more confident he or she will feel about their appearance in a variety of personal and professional situations. This improved confidence will help your child with relationships or professional goals.
Shorter Treatment Time
While more adults are getting braces now than ever before, the ideal time for orthodontic treatment is during childhood while the body is still developing. As your child continues to grow, the configuration of their teeth continues to shift and move. This makes childhood an ideal time for treatment as braces can gradually correct a child’s still-evolving smile into position. Should a child have to wait until adulthood to receive orthodontic treatment, the time they’d need to wear their braces would increase in duration. If you have any questions about getting your child braces, please feel free to schedule a consultation with our team at Senestraro Family Orthodontics.
