If your child’s teeth seem crooked or their bite looks uneven, you might wonder if they need braces. Some signs, like crowded teeth or gaps, are easy to see. Others, like trouble chewing or frequent mouth breathing, are less obvious.
Even if your child isn’t complaining about their teeth, misalignment can cause problems over time. It can affect their speech, make cleaning harder, and lead to discomfort when eating. Catching these issues early makes treatment easier and can prevent bigger problems later.
Dentists recommend that kids see an orthodontist by age seven, even if their teeth look fine. A quick checkup can spot small issues before they turn into serious ones. If you live in Toronto, Kids Dental Group offers free orthodontic consultations to help you understand your child’s needs.
11 Signs Your Child Might Need Braces
1.Crowded or Overlapping Teeth
When teeth don’t have enough space to grow, they may overlap or twist. This can make brushing and flossing harder, which raises the risk of cavities and gum problems. Crowded teeth can also put pressure on the jaw and cause discomfort.
What to Look For:
- Teeth growing in at odd angles or pushing against each other.
- Baby teeth not falling out on time, leaving little room for adult teeth.
- Your child struggling to floss because teeth are too close together.
2. Gaps Between Teeth
Some children have extra space between their teeth, which may happen when baby teeth are small or missing. Gaps can make chewing less effective and affect speech. While some spaces close naturally as adult teeth come in, others need orthodontic care.
What to Look For:
- Large spaces between front or back teeth.
- Food getting stuck often in the same areas.
- Your child having trouble pronouncing certain words.
3. Early or Late Loss of Baby Teeth
Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth, guiding them into the right position. Losing them too early can lead to shifting, while losing them too late may cause crowding. Both situations can affect how adult teeth grow.
What to Look For:
- Baby teeth falling out before age five or still in place after age twelve.
- Permanent teeth growing in behind or in front of baby teeth.
- Uneven gaps where some teeth are missing, but others remain.
4. Difficulty Biting or Chewing
If your child avoids certain foods or chews on one side of their mouth, their teeth may not be lining up properly. Misalignment can make chewing painful and affect digestion if food isn’t broken down well.
What to Look For:
- Complaints about pain or discomfort while eating.
- Avoidance of harder foods like apples or carrots.
- Food frequently getting stuck in their teeth.
5. Mouth Breathing or Snoring
Breathing through the mouth can affect how the jaw and teeth grow. It may also be linked to an airway blockage or a misaligned bite. Snoring or open-mouth sleeping could be signs that your child needs an orthodontic checkup.
What to Look For:
- Sleeping with their mouth open most nights.
- Snoring or noisy breathing while asleep.
- Dry lips or bad breath in the morning.
6. Jaw Pain or Clicking Sounds
A misaligned bite can strain the jaw, leading to pain or clicking sounds. This may be a sign of a developing jaw issue that could worsen over time. If your child complains about discomfort, a checkup can help identify the cause.
What to Look For:
- Pain in the jaw, especially in the morning or after eating.
- Clicking or popping when opening or closing the mouth.
- Trouble moving the jaw fully in one direction.
7. Frequent Biting of the Cheeks or Tongue
If your child regularly bites the inside of their cheeks or tongue, their teeth may not be lining up properly. This can cause discomfort, sores, and even speech issues if the tongue can’t move freely.
What to Look For:
- Complaints about accidentally biting their tongue or cheeks.
- Sores or redness inside the mouth.
- Speech that sounds unclear or slightly slurred.
8. Teeth That Don’t Meet Properly (Overbite, Underbite, Crossbite, Open Bite)
When the upper and lower teeth don’t meet correctly, it can affect chewing, speaking, and jaw development. Different types of bite problems can lead to uneven wear on teeth and discomfort over time.
What to Look For:
- Upper teeth covering too much of the lower teeth (overbite).
- Lower teeth sticking out in front of the upper teeth (underbite).
- Teeth not aligning properly when biting down (crossbite).
- A gap between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed (open bite).
9. Speech Issues
Teeth play a big role in how your child forms sounds. Misalignment can make certain words harder to pronounce, leading to a lisp or unclear speech. If your child struggles with certain sounds, their teeth might be a factor.
What to Look For:
- Trouble pronouncing “s,” “sh,” or “th” sounds.
- A lisp that doesn’t improve with time.
- A speech therapist recommending an orthodontic evaluation.
10. Thumb Sucking or Prolonged Pacifier Use
Thumb sucking and pacifiers can change how teeth and jaws grow, especially if the habit continues past age three. It can push front teeth forward and lead to an open bite, making it harder to bite and chew properly.
What to Look For:
- Your child sucking their thumb or using a pacifier past age three or four.
- Front teeth sticking out or not touching when the mouth is closed.
- Spaces forming between the front teeth.
11. Shifting or Misaligned Jaw
If your child’s jaw moves to one side when they open or close their mouth, their bite may be off. A misaligned jaw can lead to uneven facial growth and discomfort.
What to Look For:
- Jaw visibly shifting when they open or close their mouth.
- One side of the face looking slightly different from the other.
- Clicking, popping, or discomfort when the jaw moves.
You Should Get a Checkup Even If There Aren’t Signs
Your child’s teeth might look fine, but small issues can develop without obvious signs. Some bite problems don’t cause pain or discomfort at first, but they can lead to uneven wear, trouble chewing, or speech difficulties over time. An orthodontist can spot these early and suggest simple treatments before they become bigger problems.
Teeth and jaws change as your child grows, and some misalignments only become clear later. A checkup can confirm if everything is on track or if small corrections would help. Early care is often easier and more effective than waiting until issues get worse.
Even if your child doesn’t need treatment right away, an orthodontist can monitor their development and recommend care at the right time. Regular checkups can help avoid more complicated procedures later.
Your Child Should Have Their First Checkup By Age 7
Experts recommend that children see an orthodontist by age seven, even if their teeth seem straight. At this age, permanent teeth are starting to come in, and orthodontists can see how the jaw is growing. Early checks can catch bite problems, crowding, or issues with jaw development before they get harder to fix.
Some problems, like a misaligned bite or narrow jaw, are easier to correct while your child is still growing. Early treatment can guide the teeth and jaw into a better position, reducing the need for more involved procedures later.
An orthodontic visit at age seven doesn’t always mean your child will need braces right away. In many cases, it just helps plan for the future. If treatment is needed, starting at the right time can lead to better results with less effort.
Kids Dental Group Offers Free Orthodontic Consultations
You don’t have to guess whether your child needs braces. At Kids Dental Group, we offer free orthodontic consultations to help you understand their needs. Our orthodontists check for crowding, bite problems, and jaw growth issues. If your child doesn’t need treatment yet, we’ll monitor their progress and guide you on the best time to start.
A free consultation gives you clear answers without commitment. You’ll know if braces or other treatments will help and what to expect moving forward.
Book Your Appointment with Us Today
Early care makes treatment easier. If you’re in Toronto, book a free orthodontic consultation with Kids Dental Group. Our team will check your child’s teeth, answer your questions, and recommend the best next steps.