If you are the parent of a growing teen or are an adult and have never had braces yourself, but are considering them, it’s sometimes hard to know if it’s a good time to receive braces. Here are some signs that it might be time to schedule an orthodontic consultation at our orthodontist office in Irving, Forth Worth, or Farmers Branch Texas.
You Feel a Strong Overbite or Underbite
This is one of the biggest clues that tell you it may be time for braces. When biting down all the way, your front teeth should not go far past your bottom teeth, and vice versa. Braces not only straighten your teeth but can also fix an under or overbite.
Missing or Extra Teeth
Perhaps you’ve noticed your child lost a tooth but their adult tooth never grew in, or they have an extra tooth or two. Those are both signs that braces might be beneficial, as having too little or too many teeth can cause one’s smile to become crooked.
Pain or Discomfort Chewing Food
While there are many causes for having pain when chewing food, needing braces could be one of them. Braces not only fix alignment problems and bites, but they can fix jaw issues as well. If you have overcrowded teeth, it’s not uncommon to experience jaw pain. Chewing on food should not be painful, and if it is, there might be some sort of developmental or gradual issue with the jawline or jaw position.
Difficulty Flossing
It’s extremely important to floss between each and every tooth to avoid gum disease and get rid of plaque buildup. If your teeth are overcrowded in your mouth or overlapping each other, you might not be able to floss as easily or get between every tooth. If you’re not able to, and food and or/plaque continues to build up in areas where you can’t fully floss or brush, this is a sign that an orthodontic consultation could benefit you.
Teeth That Are Too Far Apart
Overcrowded teeth aren’t the only type of teeth pattern that causes problems; big gaps can negatively impact your bite as well as your jaw alignment. Spacing can easily be addressed by braces. Especially if the big spaces between your teeth affect your chewing or cleaning habits, it’s something that should get addressed.
Boosting Self-Confidence
If you are insecure about anything related to your teeth alignment, whether it be having crooked teeth or large gaps or a noticeable underbite or overbite, braces are a great way to boost your confidence about your looks. Your smile is often the first thing people see when they look at you, so if your smile is perfected, you’re bound to be more confident about your look!
Contact us Today
The best way to know if it’s time for braces or not is to visit our office for a consultation. Whether it’s for your child or for yourself, our dedicated team will assess your needs to determine if braces are the right fit for you at this time. It’s never too early or too late to start working on your dream smile. If you’re looking for a family dentist near Irv We look forward to hearing from you!
