Protruding teeth, underbites, crowded teeth... Malocclusion is a common and prevalent condition, affecting approximately 70% of the population. As a relatively severe oral health issue, misaligned teeth can impact both physical and mental well-being.
Malocclusion results from multiple factors
The causes of malocclusion stem from the combined effects of various factors, with internal genetic factors and external environmental factors being the two primary contributors.
Among environmental factors, acquired lifestyle habits significantly influence tooth development. Primarily, the increasing refinement of processed foods has led to a gradual decline in chewing function. Oral muscles fail to receive adequate exercise, resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy. This also hinders normal jawbone development, contributing to the rising incidence of dental misalignment and deformities in children.
Additionally, parents should be aware of several major harmful habits that can cause dental alignment problems:
Thumb-sucking habit: Children who suck their thumbs before age 3 typically experience malocclusion limited to the front teeth, and it is usually temporary. The deformity will resolve on its own if thumb-sucking stops.Persistence beyond 3.5 years significantly increases the likelihood of permanent dental and jaw deformities. If the habit continues between ages 6 and 12, permanent malocclusion may occur. Timely intervention and orthodontic treatment are therefore essential.Causes of tongue habits are multifaceted: restricted tongue mobility in the anterior oral region due to factors like a short lingual frenulum; or tongue protrusion to widen the airway caused by enlarged palatine tonsils. Normal breathing occurs through the nose, with lips naturally closed during respiration. Any factor increasing resistance to airflow through the nasal passages can lead to nasal breathing difficulties, resulting in mouth breathing.Causes include hypertrophic turbinates, chronic rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, enlarged pharyngeal tonsils, and others that partially or completely obstruct the nasal passages. A short upper lip preventing complete closure is also a contributing factor. Mouth breathing habits can affect facial development, leading to a narrower face shape, protruding upper incisors, open lips, and the lower lip positioned behind the upper incisors.
Lip-biting habit This habit can cause protrusion of the upper teeth and an inability to close the lips completely, commonly known as a "gummy smile."
Straight teeth aren't the sole goal of orthodontics
Some parents believe orthodontic treatment is solely for aesthetics. In reality, beyond improving appearance, the primary purpose of orthodontics is to restore normal dental function.
When is the best time to begin orthodontic treatment for misaligned teeth?
Experts recommend that around age 3, after all baby teeth have erupted, parents should bring their child to a professional dental clinic for a comprehensive examination of dental and jaw development.For cases involving only misaligned teeth, treatment typically begins between ages 12-14 for boys and 11-13 for girls. If severe crowding or jaw deformities are present, prompt correction is essential. However, certain jaw abnormalities like underbites should be addressed as early as ages 3-5.For most dental deformities, early treatment yields superior results compared to delayed intervention.