Is Your Child a Good Candidate for the Healthy Start Program? Look for These Signs!

Although every kid is different and special, each one deserves the chance at a healthy start to their life. When it comes to a child’s oral health, the sooner an issue is addressed, the better, especially concerning their development and bite alignment. Not everyone needs some extra help early, but as a parent, you’re happy to know it’s available to your child. But how do you know if your child is a good candidate for the Healthy Start System? This treatment with oral appliances eliminates more intensive orthodontic intervention later on and can make growing up easier on you and your child. Here are some signs that you should ask your pediatric dentist about it.

Crooked Teeth Coming In

Typically, if teeth seem to be erupting properly aligned, they likely don’t need extra assistance. On the other hand, if you can see early on that your child’s teeth aren’t coming in straight, they may require intervention to ensure appropriate spacing and ideal alignment moving forward.

Underdeveloped Jaw

An underdeveloped upper or lower jaw can limit the space your child has available for their teeth to come in. Crowded teeth create tiny nooks where their toothbrush may not reach, inviting food debris, plaque, and decay-causing bacteria to accumulate. However, early treatment can help your child’s jaw naturally and painlessly give their teeth enough room for a healthy, attractive smile.

ADHD Symptoms

Not all kids who show attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms can benefit from Healthy Start, but you may be surprised how this treatment can make a difference and for how many. Sometimes these behaviors result from inadequate sleep, affected by the child’s ability to breathe consistently through the night without lapses. By guiding their facial structures to grow in a healthy way, these kids can breathe more easily during sleep, achieving the rest their brains and bodies need to succeed during the day.

Sleep and Breathing Problems

In addition to ADHD, sleep and breathing problems can cause many unpleasant and frustrating issues for kids and their families, including the following:

• Teeth grinding
• Snoring
• Daytime fatigue
• Restless sleep
• Nightmares
• Bedwetting

Fortunately, adjustments in the Health Start System are much easier to make early in life—without surgery, braces, or other even aligners. These simple oral appliances can help your child tremendously, not only in their temperament but also in their physical development.

Want to Avoid Braces

Although countless kids and teens have experienced wearing metal brackets and wires as a rite of passage, it is not a required step in modern life. In a fraction of the time braces take, the Healthy Start System can take care of necessary changes before they even visibly show up in your child’s smile.

Ultimately, the best way to determine whether your child could benefit from Healthy Start is to talk about it with your pediatric dentist, starting when your child turns 4. Although not many of these specialists are proficient with this system, one who can identify when a child can and potentially should take advantage of Healthy Start to avoid unnecessary frustrations with braces. As they grow, your kid can have a strong, happy smile, which can carry them from childhood into adulthood with confidence.

About the Practice

At Coastal Pediatric Dentistry, we are proud to have board-certified pediatric dentists who go above and beyond the normal expectations to serve growing smiles. Dr. James Forester is one of the very few in the central coast area that provides this service, but we use it frequently to help our patients skip over braces later in their development. Dr. Natalie Vander Kam is equally dedicated to the care of our San Luis Obispo patients. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or call us at 805-592-2020.