Most people won’t need orthodontic care until they are in their early teens or young adult years. But some children will need early orthodontic care because of genetics or problems that appear in their childhood. The AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) recommends that all children be seen by an orthodontist at age 7.  This will help the orthodontist monitor your child’s growth and development and catch any major problems early, saving you time and money. There are some common signs that you can watch for that will help you know if your child needs early orthodontic care. These signs can help you get them the care they need before their oral health is permanently affected. 

1- Teeth Stick Out Too Far

If your child’s front teeth stick out and sit far in front of the bottom teeth, this is called an overjet bite.  Not only does an overjet affect the appearance of the teeth but having a significant overjet can increase the risk of chipping or losing the teeth prematurely due to an increased trauma risk. 

2- Underbite

An underbite is when the bottom teeth extend beyond the top teeth, making it appear that the lower jaw is pushing forward. It is important to have a child who presents with an underbite to be seen by an orthodontist. Underbites rarely fix themselves naturally, but there are some early treatment options that can be taken during early growth and development that can help prevent the problem from getting worse. 

3- Crossbite or Open Bite

A crossbite is a bite problem where the top teeth and bottom teeth do not come together correctly when your child bites down. Crossbites can be caused by either tooth position or jaw position, or a combination of both. Signs of a crossbite may be that your child cannot fully close their mouth so that both rows of teeth touch one another. This is a major sign that you should seek early orthodontic care.

An open bite is a type of bite where the top and bottom teeth do not touch each other in the front of the mouth when it is fully closed. This can be especially problematic for patients when they are trying to bite down and can also cause speech issues.  

4- Teeth That Do Not Come In Properly Or At All

Children generally begin showing teeth around 6 months, but adult teeth won’t start to come in until around age 6 or 7. Keeping track of these adult teeth and the rate they come in will help you to know when your child is ready for braces. A consultation with an orthodontist can help give parents expert advice and tips on how to help their child have the best oral health possible. 

Sometimes children have teeth that are trapped, do not come in at all, or are missing altogether. Having gaps in your smile not only affects self-confidence but can also affect your overall oral health. Making a plan for teeth that are missing is a great reason to consider an early orthodontic consultation.

5- Self Esteem or Bullying Issues

Here at Bailey Orthodontics, we understand that sometimes orthodontics is more than just fixing a dental problem.  Sometimes it can mean boosting someone’s self-confidence or alleviating self-esteem and bullying issues. Anyone can be a victim of bullying, but research shows that children with dental abnormalities are highly vulnerable to increased negative actions by their peers. Early orthodontic care can limit painful surgery, and misaligned teeth, and improve children’s mental image of themselves.

6- Mouth Breathing Or Snoring

Does your child snore or breathe with their mouth open? Snoring and open-mouth breathing can be a sign of oral problems. While not all mouth breathers have problems with their teeth, it is safer to have children evaluated early to prevent additional issues down the road.

Getting Early Orthodontic Care With Bailey Orthodontics

Bailey Orthodontics offers a 7 and Up Kids Club to help prepare children for orthodontic care. This club helps us monitor your child’s oral health and habits to ensure that they get the proper care at the right time. 

Orthodontic treatment can make your oral health seem like less of a chore. Braces and aligners that are implemented early help to set you up for success. Bailey Orthodontics works with patients of all ages to give them better jaw function, healthier teeth, and more confidence in their smile. If you are interested in our 7 and Up Kids Club, schedule an appointment with our office or give us a call at 801-292-1222 today! 

Many teens and adults get braces to help straighten their teeth and correct other oral problems. But many new patients wonder how braces actually move your teeth. Some people get braces to straighten teeth, but they can also help avoid additional problems in the roots of teeth, gums, or jaw. Braces are made of metal or ceramic, wires, and bonding materials. The process of braces looks different for different patients and depends on the patient’s ability to follow the instructions of the orthodontists. 

The whole goal of braces is to apply pressure to your jaw and teeth to help your smile appear straighter or smoother. At each appointment, your orthodontist tightens archwires, coiled springs, or wraps bands to apply controlled pressure to certain areas. Letting this pressure work for around 6 to 8 weeks will help your braces make the most progress and make your teeth stay in this place.

Broken brackets or wires need to be fixed as soon as possible for this reason. It is easy to lose progress quickly when your braces are not in proper condition. 

We will discuss how the different components actually move your teeth and affect your overall oral health. 

Types Of Braces

Depending on your oral issues, your orthodontist will recommend different options that can help improve your jawline, move your teeth, and improve your bite. Classic braces with brackets and wires help to put pressure on your teeth and jawline, and elastics help connect brackets to wires and help move your teeth and jaw into the correct positions. 

The ligaments around your teeth can stretch and compress as your teeth adjust, so braces help to compress the ligaments and new bone fragments form to fill the gap that is left. Braces can help move teeth backward, forward, and to the side to avoid overcrowding, and correct an overbite or underbite.

Invisalign can also move the teeth and are much less visible than traditional braces. They help to shift your teeth by applying pressure and aligning them to the mold that is one step above your current teeth setting. 

Brackets

These tiny squares are bonded to the front of your teeth which help to hold the archwire in place. Brackets are made of stainless steel or ceramic. This helps to make sure that the right teeth move and that your top and bottom teeth are moving simultaneously. 

Bands

Small rubber bands connected to the brackets can help close gaps, or move groups of teeth in a specific direction. While bands are mostly used to help move your teeth, they come in different colors that can make your braces more fun. 

Spacers

Spacers are made of rubber bands that are put between your molars to create a bit of space between teeth. Spacers (sometimes called separators) are typically used to create space between teeth for a band that would go around the tooth for an appliance that is used in addition to your braces.  There are many different types of appliances and not all patients require them. 

Springs

The springs for braces are coiled and placed on the archwire of your braces. They are placed between two teeth and moved them apart with heightened pressure to add more space. This creates space to allow unerupted teeth to grow into the correct position.

Archwires

The wires running horizontally across your teeth that connect all your brackets are called archwires. Orthodontists adjust these at appointments and apply pressure where it is required to move your teeth into the proper position. The archwires are usually made of nickel-titanium or stainless steel. 

Quality Braces With Bailey Orthodontics

Bailey Orthodontics offers quality braces solutions to help you be more confident in your smile. Braces are the most effective method for helping your jaw and teeth remain in the best position. Braces help to align your jaw and teeth in order to make eating, talking, swallowing, and more as easy as possible. 

Wearing braces can be uncomfortable, but in order to move your teeth pressure must be applied at a continuous rate to make sure they get to the appropriate position. Braces are a temporary procedure that has a lifetime of benefits when they are cared for properly. Our patients have seen beautiful smiles on the other side of orthodontic treatment and experience less jaw and teeth pain.

Bailey Orthodontics treats each patient’s individual needs and only gives you the adjustment and mechanisms you truly need. You will be able to have straighter teeth and more confidence when you are done in our office. Check out more about our orthodontists and how we help patients to feel comfortable in our office during each appointment.

Contact our Bountiful or Farmington office to start the consultation process.

Deep cleaning your teeth and cleaning around all the small parts of your braces can be difficult. Proper cleaning of your braces will ensure that you avoid staining, tooth decay, and cavities. Thoroughly cleaning braces will save you time on your orthodontic treatment and unnecessary dental procedures. Bailey Orthodontics wants to help our patients properly clean braces while working with our office. Below are some tips that can make cleaning around braces much more manageable. 

1- Flossing

We know flossing can be difficult to use when cleaning braces.  Getting to all the nooks and crannies around your wires, hardware, and brackets can be tricky. Using a floss threader or special orthodontic flossing sticks can make flossing much easier. Water flossers are a great addition to flossing.  They use a small stream of water to help blast out food particles that can lead to cavities or gum irritation. 

2- ADA Accepted Toothpaste

Using the right toothpaste for your teeth, with or without braces, can help improve your enamel and the appearance of your teeth. The American Dental Association approves many kinds of toothpaste that have the right ingredients to help protect your teeth and aid in cleaning braces. Choosing a toothpaste with or without fluoride, one that you enjoy the taste of, and one that will help improve the shine of your teeth are all choices that those with braces need to take into consideration. 

3- Dental Proxy Brush

Using a special brush to clean between wires and small parts can be extremely helpful when dealing with braces. A proxy brush, commonly called a Christmas Tree brush, is just one tool that can help in thoroughly cleaning braces because it is designed to go where your regular toothbrush can’t. Just push the tip into the hard to reach areas around the brackets and rinse the bristles with warm water after cleaning each tooth. 

4- Rubber-Tip Tooth Picks

This dental tool is pretty common in dental offices and can be used to clean the gum line and the tooth. It helps to remove stubborn food particles that may be left behind. This is a great option if you are not able to floss your teeth right away after eating.  Use the rubber-tipped toothpick very carefully to remove food particles and follow with a full rinse of the mouth.

5- Mouthwash

Using mouthwash can help rinse and clean the areas of teeth next to and around your brackets that may need extra attention. We can not see all the bacteria that may be lurking in our mouths, so using mouthwash with fluoride is a great way to kill anything that may be stuck around your brackets. Thoroughly cleaning braces with mouthwash will help prevent discoloration spots, promote gum health and help prevent bad breath. 

6- Gargle Salt Water

Your orthodontist may ask you to do this right after you get your braces to help with the swelling. Gargling salt water will help reduce inflammation and keep your teeth clean. This practice may not need to be implemented in your daily routine, but especially right after you get braces and brushing or flossing might be painful, it can help prevent bacteria build-up. 

7- Eat Braces Safe Foods

When you first get your braces, your orthodontist will talk to you about what foods are best to eat. Eating leafy greens, sugary candies, or popcorn could lead to more small particles getting wedged next to your brackets and wires. Avoiding foods like these may not be ideal, but if you want cleaning your braces to be easier, it may be best to skip them.

Braces With Bailey Orthodontics

Bailey Orthodontics has recently opened a new location in Farmington, UT. This means that we can better serve more patients and help them on their road to a better smile. Our entire staff is dedicated to making patients feel comfortable and understood while receiving care from us. We are efficient with your time and money because we know that fitting orthodontic treatment into your schedule is difficult. When you visit our office, we are timely and always greet you with a smile. Schedule an appointment with our office today!