When we think about braces, most of us envision teenagers visiting their orthodontist and having their smiles straightened.

It is true that the majority of people wearing braces are in their teens but there are also people much younger than that who get them. Braces for children aren’t always as common, but they are important for a number of reasons.

If an orthodontist believes it’s time for your kid to have braces, you should listen no matter their age. Here’s why.

Correcting Teeth: Some kids are born with misaligned teeth or overcrowding that is caused by the alignment of their teeth or limited space in their mouths. It can be a complicated matter but, thankfully, it can be repaired thanks to braces.

Over time, braces will straighten a child’s teeth and increase the room in their mouth, which simplifies oral care and avoids some very serious and pressing dental issues.

Bite Problems: Some issues with biting such as overbites, underbites, or crossbites will end up impacting the ability to chew, speak, and more. Plus, they could eventually lead to jaw pain and long-term, troubling health problems.

Luckily, braces have the ability to fix these bite problems because they align the teeth and jaws to make sure they work correctly. This helps with reducing damage to the child’s teeth and preventing some future health problems.

Jaw Development: A child might experience some mismanaged development of their jaw, which leads to alignment problems.

In certain situations, committing to orthodontic treatments early with tools such as expanders or braces will help guide the development of a child’s jaw, which creates enough room for all teeth to grow into place properly. The act of adding braces will help with avoiding some serious problems in the long-term future.

Fixing Gaps: Big spaces between teeth might seem like simply a cosmetic problem, but they can also lead to some pretty severe difficulties with speaking, eating, and more. In some situations, they may also lead to wear and tear on a child’s teeth too.

But braces help to close all gaps and straighten a child’s teeth, which leads to better functionality and enhanced aesthetic appeal.

The good news is that braces aren’t the way they used to be. If you are a parent who has a child who needs braces, you shouldn’t be afraid. They won’t feel much pain or discomfort and the results will be quick and undeniable.

If your orthodontist is recommending braces for your child, there is a good reason for that and you should listen to them. You should think about their future, how they will look and feel, and how a straight and healthy smile will make their life so much better. When you think of it that way, getting braces for your child is a no-brainer.