There’s nothing quite as exciting as the emergence of your child’s first teeth. Teething aside, their smile is beginning to truly transform, and who wouldn’t love to watch that happen in real-time?
The only question, then, is how worried you should be if their baby teeth begin to grow crooked. And even if you get past those initial first years, the question will only resurface again once their permanent teeth begin to make an appearance.
So, what do you need to know?
Bringing It Back To Baby Teeth
“Crooked baby teeth are common and are not always a cause for concern — if a baby’s teeth grow in crooked, it does not mean that their adult teeth will grow in crooked,” Emergency Dentists USA explains. “Large gaps between baby teeth are a good thing as well because adult teeth that grow in can help fill in those spots.”
Thus, all you can do is continue to monitor the growth of your child’s baby teeth. You may also elect to bring them in to their pediatric dentist for an x-ray just to make sure they don’t need any spacers for their teeth.
Otherwise, in these cases, discoloration of the baby teeth is more important than that of misalignment, as this indicates poor hygiene and a need for greater dental attention.
Peeking In On The Permanent Teeth
Perhaps your child is a little older now, and their baby teeth are starting to make their way out of their mouth and into the hands of the tooth fairy.
But how might that affect whether or not their permanent teeth will grow straight?
“When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other adult teeth to find room when they come in,” according to the American Dental Association (ADA). “This can make teeth crooked or crowded. That’s why starting infants off with good oral care can help protect their teeth for decades to come.”
In cases such as these, the best thing you can do is bring your child to a trusted pediatric orthodontist. Together, you can begin to evaluate and plan for any orthodontic care that may become necessary as the rest of their permanent teeth grow in.
Onward To Orthodontic Care You Can Trust
As reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 30% of orthodontists today say their patients’ crooked teeth were the result of premature tooth loss as a child. But while you can’t control how their teeth grow and fall out over time, you can help them to maintain and monitor their overall dental and orthodontic health.
And that’s where Setzer, Cochran, and Soares Pediatric Dentistry comes in!
With a team of award-winning, board-certified pediatric dentists and orthodontists, you can trust your child is in the most qualified and compassionate hands. To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact our office today by calling 904-733-7254 (Jacksonville) or 904-473-0600 (Ponte Vedra).
We look forward to offering your family a warm welcome and a beautiful smile!