Children's Bite Development: 7 Things Parents Should Watch For
Ensuring that your child's teeth and bite develop properly is essential for both their oral health and overall well-being. In contrast, bite problems in kids can affect chewing, speaking, and even breathing. As your Denver and Centennial area bite corrections specialists and orthodontists for kids, Foundations Orthodontics specializes in preventive orthodontics, focusing on early detection and holistic treatments.
Want to know what to keep an eye out for in your child’s oral development? Here are seven things that can indicate a future bite problem.
1. Misaligned Teeth
One of the most obvious signs of bite problems in kids is misaligned teeth. If your child's teeth appear crowded, spaced out, or protruding, these might be signs of a crossbite, underbite, overbite, or narrow dental arch.
Early orthodontics can help address these problems before they become more severe. At Foundations Orthodontics, early orthodontics — also called Phase 1 orthodontics — can include treatments like a palatal expander to open up the dental arch and make room for incoming adult teeth and also improve nasal breathing. If your child needs a palatal expander, check out some of our tips here for making the transition easier.
2. Difficulty Chewing or Biting
If your child struggles to chew food properly or bites their cheek a lot when eating, these could signal a problem with their bite. Proper alignment of the teeth and jaws is crucial for effective chewing and digestion. Plus, it can be frustrating for kids or even restrict the foods they’ll eat, in turn affecting their nutritional needs.
3. Mouth Breathing and Snoring
Pay attention to how your child breathes, especially at night. Chronic mouth breathing and snoring in kids can be signs of airway obstruction, which can be related to a narrow upper jaw and would greatly benefit from airway orthodontics.
In addition, issues like sleep disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea can prevent your child from getting the quality rest they need every night. In turn, this can lead to behavioral problems, daytime tiredness, and difficulties focusing at school.
Foundations Orthodontics is your expert airway orthodontics practice in Denver and Centennial. We offer airway treatment orthodontics for kids and adults, focusing on aligning the bite to help open the airway, and encourage proper breathing through the nose.
4. Speech Difficulties
Speech issues such as lisping, slurring, or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds like “s, sh, or j” can be related to bite problems. In other words, misaligned teeth can affect the way the tongue and lips move, impacting speech development. Holistic bite correction brings the jaw, teeth, and tongue into harmony so that they all meet correctly for speaking. Sometimes orthodontics are paired with myofunctional speech therapy which helps train the newly-aligned oral system to pronounce sounds with clarity.
5. Thumb Sucking or Pacifier Use
Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use beyond the toddler years can lead to bite problems, like open bites and overbites. If your child is entering elementary school or is in the early school years and has continued these habits, it might be time to consult Dr. Moran or Dr. White. We can examine your child’s teeth and determine if a habit-breaking appliance might help.
6. Early Loss or Late Eruption of Baby Teeth
The timing of tooth loss and eruption can affect bite development. If your child loses baby teeth too early or their adult teeth are slow to come in, it can disrupt normal development of their bite. Early orthodontics can help guide teeth into their proper positions. For example, a spacer prevents teeth from shifting into the empty space left from a baby tooth lost early, ensuring there’s enough room for the adult tooth once it erupts.
7. Jaw Pain or Clicking
Jaw pain, clicking, or difficulty opening and closing the mouth can indicate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which are often linked to bite and even skeletal issues. Foundations Orthodontics provides comprehensive TMJ disorder treatment, sometimes with a splint therapy or splint therapy followed by clear aligners or braces if your TMJ disorder stems from serious misalignment.
Foundations Orthodontics For All Around Healthy, Happy Smiles
At Foundations Orthodontics, our unique holistic bite correction approach is not just about straight teeth and a new smile. It’s about looking at the entire relationship of the teeth, jaws, and facial structures — for overall aesthetic harmony and optimal functioning for the long term.
Have concerns about your child's bite or oral development? Board-certified orthodontists Dr. Moran and Dr. White are here to help. Make an appointment at our Denver, Centennial, Granby, or Winter Park office and get started with your bite correction experts on the journey to a strong, stable, and beautiful smile—one that will positively impact your child’s oral and overall well-being.