Bad Childhood Habits That Can Lead To Crooked Teeth

Growing up with crooked teeth can destroy your self-esteem.

But sadly, our habits as children have a lot to do with how our teeth are aligned. Our teeth as children are still in the process of developing. What we continuously do can move our teeth and cause misalignment.

Bad Habits That Can Lead To Crooked Teeth

To avoid crooked teeth in your children, here are bad habits you should fix right away:

1. Bruxism or Chronic Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding is commonly caused by stress. It happens in our sleep so we don’t have control over it. The persistent grinding and pressure can wear down the teeth’s enamel. Your gums will recede and your teeth will shift and may even cause bite changing.

A customized mouth guard is the most effective way of preventing damages.

2. Sleeping on your Stomach

The simple act of sleeping on your stomach can apply force to both your jaws and teeth. When you always sleep on your stomach, the constant pressure can shift your teeth. It may also cause facial and spinal abnormalities.

Ask your children to sleep on their back or side. Pillows on their sides can help make them feel more comfortable.

3. Thumb-Sucking

Thumb-sucking for infants is normal. But it becomes a bad practice when it continues on as they grow. The act causes pressure on both the upper and lower jaw. When you suck your thumb, the upper teeth tend to shift forward. The lower teeth are pulled backward causing bite problems.

There are different ways to avoid thumb-sucking. But one way is to put protective covering on their hand at night.

Conclusion

Crooked teeth are among the most common dental health problems. It can be fixed. But prevention is always better than the cure.

Receiving early orthodontic treatment as a child can help prevent the need for orthodontics as an adult. Call today for a free consultation!