“My child’s baby teeth are crooked. Do they need braces?” “My kid’s primary teeth are perfectly straight, so we’re probably fine, right?”
I’ve heard questions like these from parents and, in both cases, the answer is not necessarily.
When I evaluate younger kids, I’m less concerned about whether baby teeth are perfectly straight and much more focused on jaw growth.
Why? Well, because baby teeth are placeholders for adult teeth and will eventually fall out. Your child’s jaws, however, are the foundation for everything that comes next.
And if that foundation isn’t developing properly, it can create bigger problems later, even if things look okay right now.
Are Baby Teeth a Good Indicator of a Child’s Future Smile?
Baby teeth don’t necessarily predict what a child’s permanent smile will look like.
For example, spacing between baby teeth is often a good thing. Baby teeth are smaller than permanent teeth, so little gaps can signal that the jaws are creating room for the larger adult teeth that are on the way.
As for crooked baby teeth, just because primary teeth aren’t perfectly straight doesn’t automatically mean permanent teeth will be crooked too.
Baby teeth can shift because of oral habits like thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use, or tongue thrusting. Addressing these habits early can help reduce their impact on jaw and bite development.
For these reasons, during an early orthodontic evaluation, I pay closer attention to:
- Available space for permanent teeth
- Jaw growth
- Bite relationships
- Facial symmetry
- Eruption patterns
What are Some Common Jaw Growth Concerns in Kids?
Ideally, your child’s upper and lower jaws grow in harmony, creating enough space for the permanent teeth to erupt and allowing the bite to fit together properly. But growth doesn’t always follow a perfect pattern.
When the jaws develop differently than expected, it can affect not only how the teeth line up, but also chewing, facial and speech development, and long-term oral health.
Kids can experience several types of jaw growth differences, including:
Uneven Jaw Growth
Imbalance Between the Upper and Lower Jaws
Sometimes the upper and lower jaws can be different sizes that don’t match. This imbalance can affect the way the teeth fit together and lead to bite concerns like crossbites and underbites. Because kids may shift their jaw to one side to bite down comfortably, facial asymmetry from uneven jaw growth is also fairly common.
Lower Jawbone Growth Issues
Overdeveloped Lower Jaw
When the lower jaw grows too much (called mandibular prognathism in nerdy tooth words), the lower teeth end up sitting in front of the upper teeth in what’s known as a skeletal underbite. This may affect chewing, speech, facial balance, and the way the teeth fit together.
Underdeveloped Lower Jaw
When the lower jaw doesn’t grow enough, it sits further back relative to the upper jaw. This contributes to bite problems, including an overbite and overjet (protruding front teeth).
Upper Jaw Growth Issues
Underdeveloped Upper Jaw
When the upper jaw is too narrow or doesn’t grow enough, there may not be sufficient room for the permanent teeth to erupt properly. This can increase the risk of crowding and problems like crossbites.
Overdeveloped or Forward Jaw Growth
When the upper jaw grows excessively or sits too far forward (maxillary prognathism), it can cause a skeletal overbite or overjet teeth.
Can You Stimulate Bone Growth in the Jaw Naturally?
If you’ve searched “how to simulate bone growth in jaw naturally” or “how to encourage lower jaw growth,” you’re not alone.
But the truth is, there’s no magic exercise, supplement, or viral social media hack that can safely alter jaw development. The only way to encourage jaw growth is through dentofacial orthopedics, which is where we use appliances to make skeletal changes. Saying it differently, if a bad bite is left to grow naturally, it won’t outgrow the changes by growth alone.
For more in-depth info on the topic, read: “Do Exercises for the Jawline Really Work?“
That said, while much of jaw growth is genetic, there are healthy habits that can help to support proper development, such as:
- Breaking prolonged thumb sucking and pacifier habits
- Addressing tongue thrust and posture or mouth breathing
- Eating a healthy diet
- Maintaining good oral health
Why is Age 7 an Orthodontic Milestone?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children see an orthodontist for an evaluation by age 7.
That doesn’t mean your child needs braces at 7. In fact, most kids don’t. But it does allow me to ensure their teeth and jaws are developing properly.
And if everything looks good? Great! I’ll simply monitor growth with occasional check-ups until the time is right to start treatment.
If I notice certain concerns early, however, I can guide jaw growth to make room for the permanent teeth to erupt as straight as possible and avoid or minimize emerging bite issues.
Do Braces Move Your Jaw or Teeth?
Braces and clear aligners primarily move the teeth. They don’t physically move the jaw itself. But we can use auxiliaries, such as rubber bands, to provide the corrective force needed to improve how the upper and lower teeth fit together.
The good news is that teeth can be shifted at almost any age. Whether you’re 12 or 72, orthodontic treatment can align teeth and enhance bite function.
Jaw growth is different. Some bite problems have a relatively small window where we can take advantage of a child’s natural growth and development to guide the jaws into a better position.
Once jaw growth is complete, treatment often becomes significantly more complicated and may even require extractions or surgery in severe cases.
While kids are still growing, I may recommend orthodontic appliances like:
- Palatal expanders
- Limited phase 1 braces
- Space maintainers
For example, a palatal expander can widen a narrow upper jaw before the two halves of the jaw fuse together.
After phase 1 treatment, patients have a break to allow the rest of the permanent teeth to fall out. Then, they start phase 2 treatment with braces or clear aligners to straighten the teeth and fine-tune the bite.
When Should You Schedule an Orthodontic Evaluation?
Book a growth and development checkup if your child is turning 7 or shows signs of:
- Crowded teeth
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Mouth breathing
- Thumb sucking habits
- Jaw misalignment
- Difficulty chewing
- Delayed tooth eruption
- Facial asymmetry from uneven jaw growth
The Bottom Line
In kids, jaw growth matters more than the alignment of baby teeth. Your child’s smile will continue to change rapidly, but the jaw creates the foundation for their bite.
At Jeffrey Kwong Orthodontics, I take a conservative approach and only recommend early treatment when it truly benefits a child’s health, function, and long-term smile.
Book an Orthodontic Evaluation in El Dorado Hills!
If your child is around age 7, schedule a complimentary growth and development checkup today. Our El Dorado Hills office is bright, welcoming, and designed to make visits fun.
We’d love to meet your family and ensure your child’s smile is on the right track.
