Spotting the Warning Signs of a Bite Problem In Your Child

Being a parent is probably one of the most rewarding things you can do. Simultaneously, it can be incredibly challenging, confusing, and overwhelming, especially with oral care.

While it makes sense to book your child’s initial dentist appointment after their first tooth appears or no later than their first birthday, what about bite problems? How would you know if your child has a bite problem, and what do you do about it? Don’t panic, says the highly skilled team at Duval Orthodontics. There are some clear warning signs to look for.

What is a bad bite, and why do they matter?

A bad bite, a malocclusion, is a teeth alignment issue that ranks as a common dental issue. Globally, about 56% of the general population — children and adults alike suffer from a bad bite. In some countries, bad bites rank as high as 81%.

Malocclusion refers to the relationship between the teeth in your upper and lower arches of your mouth. Specifically, a bad bite means that your teeth don’t meet correctly or they don’t meet at all.

Although straight, aligned teeth are more aesthetically pleasing, the implications of malocclusion go beyond simply being more attractive and enabling your child to chew properly. Misaligned teeth can contribute to issues like breathing problems, such as sleep apnea and snoring, and affect your child’s ability to speak clearly.

Warning signs of bite issues

As you do for any other health issues with your child, be attentive and look for basic things like problems forming words clearly or speaking with a lisp. Another sign that your child may have a teeth alignment problem is if they bite their tongue or cheeks when chewing.

Observe how your child’s teeth come in and look for these common bite problems:

• Crowded or crooked teeth - A crowding issue is typically the reason crooked teeth happen. The problem is a lack of real estate — a mismatch between the size of your child’s jaw with big teeth or a combination of the two. This scenario creates issues for teeth erupting or may cause rotated teeth.
• Overbites and underbites - Similarly, crowding may also result in overlapping teeth problems like overbites and underbites. With an underbite, the lower teeth overlap with the upper teeth. The opposite happens with an overbite where the front teeth and upper jaw overlap the lower front teeth.
• Crossbites - A crossbite is usually a bone misalignment problem or an issue with baby teeth. With a crossbite, one or more upper teeth erupt to fit inside the lower teeth. Untreated crossbites may cause excessive wear on teeth enamel, jaw pain, or even temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
• Open bites - With an open bite, your child’s top and bottom teeth can’t meet, which leaves them stuck in an open position. Common causes of open bites include problems with jaw position, teeth alignment, or a combination of both issues.
• Gaps and spacing issues - Teeth sometimes erupt as odd-sized or with unusual spacing between teeth. Either scenario throws off the balance of force when chewing and may lead to cracked or chipped teeth.

Orthodontic evaluation by age 7

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children visit an orthodontist for an evaluation no later than age 7. However, if you observe any warning signs of a developing bite problem, reach out to your orthodontist; bite problems won’t go away on their own.

Waiting to get an issue checked out only increases the risk of a problem becoming more complex, taking more time and money to fix. Remember that getting your child evaluated doesn’t mean your child begins active treatment, though. The evaluation is simply a tool to determine if a potential problem exists. If the evaluation results conclude that there is a problem, your orthodontist maps out a future treatment plan. 

If you have concerns about how your child’s teeth are erupting or if you think your child has a bite problem, contact Duval Orthodontics for an evaluation. Call the office in Warner Robins or Albany, Georgia, or book an appointment online today.

Our highly skilled orthodontists can help you and your family navigate whether your child needs braces, and if so, what the optimal timeline is.