Three Reasons Why Crowded Teeth in Children Are a Problem

Children go through a whole lot of growth between birth and adulthood. Some of this growth is obvious, such as their height, but other growth remains hidden. Annual dental care is important because changes in teeth and oral health cannot be immediately seen by the parental eye. If you have been advised by your child's dentist that it is time to consider straightening options because of overcrowding, you might be wondering whether this is an issue which needs immediate attention. Before you delay teeth straightening for too long, consider these three reasons why overcrowding in the mouth is an issue for your child.

Increased Chance of Decay

One of the main reasons why overcrowded teeth are an issue is the increased chance of decay. When a child's teeth are too close together, there are parts of the enamel which begin to overlap. The tiny gaps between these overlaps are where food particles get trapped after eating. Your child's toothbrush bristles cannot get into these areas, and as you know, bacteria feed on these food particles and turn them in plaque. The plaque then erodes the enamel of the teeth. Next thing you know, dental decay takes hold and depending on how far it goes before your dentist finds it, your child is looking at either a filling or tooth removal. 

Increased Chance of Speech Impediment

When a child's teeth are overcrowded, then it can have an impact on their speech development. This is because a lisp may develop due to the way the air has to move around the crowded teeth. Speech impediments need therapeutic help to get rid of. However, once the teeth are straightened and back into a standard alignment, then the ability to speak without a lisp should happen quite quickly.

Increased Chance of Low Self-Esteem

While many parents try to raise their children to be confident no matter how they look, chances are that if a child has a body part different to their peers then someone is going to tease them about it. Overcrowded teeth which look unusual or lead to a lisp are an item which may put your child in the firing line for teasing. Teasing leads to low self-esteem, and this is an issue which is difficult to get past later in life.

Overcrowded teeth are a physical and mental health problem, so if your child's dentist is recommending that it is time to start the teeth-straightening process, then you should start investigating what type of straightener is best for them.