How Orthodontic Treatment Can Boost Confidence
As parents, we work hard to build our children’s self-esteem to help them on their journey toward becoming confident adults. Unfortunately, children and teens often discover flaws in their appearance that affect their self-image. According to a study published by the Oral Health Foundation, approximately 47 percent of children have revealed to their parents that they experience anxiety about their oral health. Orthodontic treatment is an effective way to resolve common dental problems, such as overcrowding, spacing issues, misaligned jaw, overbites, underbites, open bites, and issues with chewing and speech. It’s normal to focus on your child’s physical oral health but it’s also important to consider their psychological health. Having a straight, beautiful smile can help boost confidence in both children and teens.
The Impact of Dental Problems on Self-Esteem
Having a great smile has been linked to greater success in life. Individuals with a healthy, bright smile often find it easier to make friends, develop relationships, and ultimately do well with future professional endeavors, such as college and job interviews. One of the biggest reasons for this is confidence. People are naturally drawn to others who are friendly, happy, and confident.
When a child is proud of their smile, it reflects in everything they do. Your child may be more willing to smile in photographs, raise their hand to speak in class and participate in activities that require them to interact with others. Orthodontics can give your child the self-confidence that they may be lacking due to being uncomfortable with their smile. Pediatric dentistry is designed to give children every chance to succeed.
Benefits of Orthodontics for Children and Teens
Many people are aware of the physical benefits of orthodontic treatments, such as braces. Straight, well-aligned teeth are easier for children to clean and maintain. Correcting common orthodontic problems, such as crowding, can also help prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. Orthodontics can even help with other problems related to your child’s misaligned bite, such as jaw pain and headaches.
The advantages of orthodontics aren’t just physical. A conventionally beautiful smile can also boost your child’s confidence. By correcting alignment issues, a person often appears more well-kempt to others. A healthy smile shows that the person cares about their teeth, which can show in the way the person speaks and smiles. This is especially important as teens grow older and become more aware of how others see them.
Orthodontics can help children and teens become more confident in social situations. If your child is struggling in social situations, braces can help improve their appearance and make them feel better about themselves. With a boost in self-esteem, children and teens are also more likely to maintain their improved smile, which can have a direct impact on their oral health, appearance, and ability to effectively communicate.
How to Know If a Child Is Ready for Orthodontics
While the benefits of orthodontics cannot be overstated, not all children may be prepared for braces. There is no “perfect” age for orthodontics. However, your pediatric dentist can help you determine if your child is ready.
Some things to consider before investing in Ponte Vedra braces include:
- The impact on oral health. A misaligned smile can have a negative impact on your child’s teeth and increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
- The severity of the misalignment: Our office can help you determine if braces are the best option.
- The impact on appearance: For many children, especially teens, the biggest reason for getting braces is to improve their appearance.
Call Ponte Vedra Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
The team of dental professionals at Ponte Vedra Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics are committed to helping children develop healthy, beautiful smiles. To achieve this goal, we use a variety of appliances to help shift teeth into place, retrain muscles, and positively affect the growth of the jaw. To learn more about our orthodontics services, contact our office today at (904) 373-5120 to schedule an appointment.