While it is true that many of the causes of crooked teeth are out of your control – not all of them are. Although you cannot do anything about hereditary factors, there are other steps that you can take to help your children avoid developing crooked teeth.
Put an End to Thumb Sucking
Thumb sucking is a perfectly normal habit that many babies and toddlers use to comfort themselves. However if possible you should try to put an end to that habit as soon as possible – preferably before they turn four.
The fact of the matter is that when your child sucks their thumb they risk damaging their front teeth, gums, and the roof of their mouth. The constant pressure on the teeth also increases the odds that they become more crooked as they grow in.
If you want to try to stop your child from sucking their thumb, the best option is to pre-empt it. To do that you need to first figure out when they suck their thumb, and find an activity to replace it and distract them.
Provide a Balanced Diet
Poor nutrition can lead to developmental issues in children – and that applies to their teeth as well. If your child does not get sufficient vitamins and minerals, it could affect the growth of their teeth and is often one of the precursors to crooked teeth.
As a rule you should always provide your children with a balanced diet and make sure that their nutritional needs are met. In the long term it can help you to avoid many dental health issues as well as other problems.
Instill Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Poor dental hygiene is one of the main reasons why children end up developing crooked teeth. That is especially the case if your children develop gum disease, in which case their future adult teeth may be affected.
If you want to make sure that doesn’t happen, you should start to instill good oral hygiene habits early on. Start to show them how they can brush their teeth, help them to improve their technique, and make sure that they brush at least twice a day.
It may help to try to make dental hygiene fun and turn it into an activity that you share with your kids. For example you could reward them with a fun brush, give them gold stars for brushing well, or use a sand timer to make sure they brush for long enough
Conclusion
If you do start to notice that your child has crooked teeth, you should take them to visit an orthodontist Exeter early on. The orthodontist will be able to recommend a course of action, and come up with a plan to correct the alignment of their teeth.
Keep in mind that braces are more effective on children than adults, so it is definitely a good idea to tackle the problem sooner rather than later. In fact it is possible to start wearing braces as young as nine years old.