National Children’s Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and what better way for an orthodontist to celebrate than to educate readers about the importance and history of modern braces for children. It seems like everyone these days has had some sort of corrective dentistry done, whether it was braces, invisalign, headgear, etc. That being said, braces for children are becoming more common and allow parents the ability to help their child correctly align their teeth at a very early age. This prevents them from having to visit their orthodontist to get their braces adjusted when they become an adult.

Braces have been around longer than you may have guessed, and although their certainly were no orthodontists at the time, it’s funny to see how people corrected their teeth in the ancient times. Proof of the earliest existence of dental braces were found in ancient tombs dating back to 2000 B.C. Romans and other cultures were known to wear metal wires and other various materials wrapped around their teeth. Centuries later, books were published on dental braces and methods for aligning teeth. Some of the earliest orthodontists from the 1700s used iron braces!

Fortunately dental braces for children and adults alike have made incredible advances in the comfort and material used today. Orthodontists are able to apply braces for children that are virtually unnoticeable, cause less discomfort than ever before, and work at a much faster pace than the braces used in ancient times.

Lansdowne Orthodontics is ready and able to provide braces for children and adults who are looking for a permanent solution to their misaligned teeth. And don’t forget to celebrate this National Children’s Dental Health Month by educating your children on the importance of dental health and maintaining exquisite oral hygiene!