Did you know that nearly 75% of children will need braces or orthodontic work before they are 13 years old?
It’s quite staggering really. But this is the age where the adult teeth have all grown in, and that period of change can cause a lot of problems in healthy jaw and bite development, including malocclusions. For a lot of children, this means having metal braces fitted to their teeth, to be lived with for months or even years to treat any number of malocclusions in their teeth. But what are malocclusions, and is there a way to treat them without traditional braces?
What
Is A Malocclusion?
If we’re being technical, a malocclusion is defined as: ‘A misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the two dental arches when they approach each other as the jaws close.’ But if we’re speaking in plain English, it’s just the specialists’ word for crooked teeth or a misalignment of your teeth when you bite. There are a number of different forms malocclusion can take, and they are all pretty common, particularly in children.
Malocclusions can take the form of:
Overcrowding: A very common issue caused by a lack of space for the teeth in the jaw. This causes the teeth to become crooked and overlap. It’s the single most common reason for orthodontic work in adults.
Overjet: An overjet is where your top teeth extend past your bottom teeth horizontally (not to be confused with an overbite). The teeth protruding into your check can cause some problems with eating and speech.
Overbite: Ideally there should be a little bit of overlap from the upper to the lower teeth, in some cases the upper row of teeth go out too far, resulting in an overbite.
Crossbite: A crossbite is where your upper teeth come down inside your lower teeth. This can happen just on one side, at the front, back or even all over your jaw.
Anterior crossbite (underbite): This particular type of crossbite only affects the front teeth, and displays the opposite problem to an overbite, with the lower teeth jutting out past the upper ones.
Spacing: Spacing can occur between two or more teeth across your whole jaw. Some of the causes of spacing include missing teeth, small teeth, tongue thrusting and thumb sucking.
Diastema: A diastema is the space between two teeth, usually at the front (think of the famous Rimmel London model).
Impacted tooth: Impacted teeth aren’t able to come through the gums normally (known as eruption), and so get stuck. To treat this you may need to have the tooth removed, or have it exposed so that a brace can be fitted.
Missing tooth: Missing teeth can develop as a result of trauma, or the teeth could simply not develop properly and never erupt.
The
Importance Of Early Intervention
On
average, 2 out of 4 children will have or develop a malocclusion at some point
in their childhood. For some, it will be the result of habits, such as thumb
sucking, while others will be caused by adult teeth growing in and causing
problems. If left unchecked, these small problems can grow and cause real
dental issues as an adult, requiring extensive and usually very expensive
treatment. However, if they are treated early, from the age of around, then the
treatment can help the child’s teeth grow naturally into the correct formation.
This means improved facial development, less pain and difficulty doing normal
things like chewing or breathing through the mouth, and a decrease in bad oral
habits like snoring and tongue thrusting. It also means a lot of money and time
saved on orthodontic treatments in the future.
How
Does Myobrace Help?
The Myobrace system has been designed as an alternative to the traditional, bulky braces of old. Instead, it’s a preventative pre-orthodontic treatment that focuses on addressing the underlying causes of crooked teeth – such as poor oral habits or abnormal development. It’s a series of appliances which have been proven to correct the habits of poor dental development while providing light forces to realign teeth into their natural positioning. Rather than wearing braces of complicated uncomfortable dental appliances 24 hours a day, the Myobrace system only needs to be work for one or two hours a day and overnight while sleeping. Combined with a series of ‘myofunctional exercises’ also known as ‘trainer activities’, the Myobrace can completely eliminate the need for invasive orthodontal work in the future. The Myobrace is best suited for children aged 3 to 15, but can be used to treat adults if needed, and is the perfect way to naturally correct crooked teeth.
At the Appledore Dental Clinic, Dr Teresa Day is an expert in fitting and treating with the Myobrace system. When the warning signs of malocclusion are spotted at your child’s regular check-up, your Appledore dentist will refer you to Dr Teresa who can perform an evaluation to see if your child is suitable for Myobrace treatment.
With our help, your child can avoid having uncomfortable braces fitted, and instead enjoy a simple dental correction while going about life as usual. For more information, please get in touch with the clinic today and book your consultation.
https://cosmeticdentistmk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Myobrace-blog.jpg480720Yvonne Poolehttps://cosmeticdentistmk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Appledore-Dental-Clinic-Logo-HiRes-1.pngYvonne Poole2019-10-08 17:49:022020-11-16 12:27:19Myobrace Treatment Means You Can Say No To Traditional Braces
Did you know that only 31% of people in the UK floss between their teeth, and only 5% of people do it regularly? It’s a startling figure, we know, especially since it’s pretty likely that your dentist tells you to floss at every appointment. As they should – the NHS suggests that everyone over the age of 12 should floss (or use interdental brushes if they prefer) every day as part of their oral health routine. So why is it that so many people avoid the minty-tasting white string? Well, it turns out that there are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation out there about flossing. And you know how much we like to bust a good myth, especially if it’s around oral hygiene. So today, we thought we’d bring you the truth and the lies around flossing.
Myth 1: Flossing Is Painful Flossing shouldn’t hurt. If you’re using the right type of floss and your mouth is healthy, then you shouldn’t experience any pain at all. True, if you have gum disease then flossing can feel a little uncomfortable when you first start, but after a while it will feel more normal. If you’re experiencing pain when flossing, you should make an appointment to see your dentist.
Myth 2: I Should Only Floss When I Have Something Stuck In My Teeth
A lot of people will only break out the dental floss when they have something stuck between their teeth and it’s driving them crazy. And flossing is a great way to remove trapped particles from in-between your teeth, that much is true. But it’s not the only reason you should floss. For one, you are more likely to get things stuck between your teeth if you have built up plaque blocking the gaps and causing tightness. Flossing removes the plaque and prevents tooth decay (and things getting stuck).
Myth 3: Flossing Will Make My Receding Gums Worse
You can also use Interdental Brushes
If you have receding gums, you might be too scared to floss in case it makes them worse. This is the last thing you want, and we completely understand this fear. But thankfully there is no truth to that myth at all. In fact, regular flossing can actually prevent your gums from receding further, since it helps clear out food particles and bacteria from below the gumline. So if you have gingivitis, gum disease or receding gums, flossing is actually a more crucial part of your oral health routine than most.
Myth 4: I Shouldn’t Floss Because I Have Braces
Braces make flossing a challenging task, and a lot of people end up giving up and just not flossing while they have braces. But this is a really bad idea. Giving up on flossing for months or even years can lead to some nasty discoveries when you have the braces off. Just imagine all the food particles and bacteria in-between your teeth when you have them taken off! Or, look at it another way – there is no point in straightening your teeth if they’re not going to be healthy when your braces are removed.
Myth 5: My Teeth Are Too Tight To Floss Properly
This is something we hear a lot. If you have tight teeth with very little space in-between, the flossing can be a bit more of a challenge. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it at all. Instead, you just need to change your technique a little. A good tip for flossing tight teeth is to use a see-sawing motion to get the floss between your teeth. You could also try a waxed floss, which will slide between your teeth easier, and opting for a thinner floss will help too.
Truth!
Flossing is an important part of your oral hygiene routine, and we dentists recommend it for a reason. It helps remove bacteria from your mouth and keeps plaque from building up between your teeth, causing problems. It can also help treat some dental conditions, like receding gums and gingivitis, and can prevent bad breath and even tonsil stones. If you’re not sure how to floss properly, or you’re struggling to find a way that works for you, talk to your dentist or hygienist. They will be happy to demonstrate the techniques to you and even recommend products that will help.
