Braces For Children: At What Age Should You Consider Them For Your Child?  

Investing in your child’s smile is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. Not only will it deliver increased confidence now but it will help to ensure they have a smile to be proud of in the future. When you think about braces for children, you probably imagine it will be something you’ll need to consider in their teenage years, but early intervention with orthodontics from a younger age can be even more beneficial and ensure that their jaw and teeth develop in the right position as they grow. 

So, at what age should you consider braces for your child? 

Though there isn’t a set age at which a child can be considered old enough for braces, the youngest patients that we treat tend to start from around 7 or 8 years of age. At this young age, the child has probably started to lose their primary teeth and adult teeth may be beginning to erupt. If there are early signs of misalignment, crowding or gaps, this can be an ideal opportunity to use braces to correct the issues and help the teeth and mouth to continue growing and developing in a more orderly fashion. 

Not all braces will be suitable for young children though, so we offer different kinds of braces for children’s teeth depending on what age they are and what issues they are experiencing with their smile. 

For young children from the age of 8 onwards we offer two options: 

• Removable braces – these simple braces have wires attached and can be easily removed. They are used to correct minor orthodontic issues. 
• Invisalign First – this system of clear aligners is great for correcting crowding, gaps and narrow dental arches and as the aligners can be removed for eating and cleaning, they can easily fit into your child’s daily routine. 

From the age of around 11, there are a couple of other options we can consider for early intervention, including metal or ceramic braces which are fixed to the teeth and help to gradually move them into the desired position. 

Signs Your Child May Need Braces 

As a parent or carer, you are ideally placed to look out for the signs that your child may need early orthodontics. These can include: 

• Early or late loss of baby teeth 
• Difficulty chewing or biting 
• Mouth breathing 
• Speech impediments 
• Protruding teeth 
• Shifting of the jaw 
• Crowded front teeth 

These orthodontic issues can be inherited or caused by injury, thumb-sucking, or early/late loss of baby teeth. Early treatment can prevent the need for orthodontics as an adult and avoid extractions or surgery. 

Find Out More About Braces for Children 

If you think your child may need braces, or you’d just like to find out if they are a suitable candidate for treatment, please call Kids Dental on 020 8646 6300 or click here to leave us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.