ee)IGSeNOie = Pents > T, Dental Problems In Children Linked To Bullying (NAPSA)—Here’s surprising news that can help pents take a bite out of the issue of bullying: Having “ugly” teeth may significantly contribute to the problem, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics. According to the study, teeth were the No. 1-tgeted physical feature to increase a child’s chanceof being bullied, followed by the child’s strength and weight. Adds Robert E. Vner, DMD, president of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAQ), orthodontists have long been awe of the relationship between how teeth look and poor selfesteem—no matter the age of the patient. “A person’s smile is very important in communication and interpersonal relations,” says Dr. Vner. “Our teeth e visible, so whenthey e poorly aligned, this can be an easy tget for teasing or bullying. Pents often confide that their child is being ‘teased’ about the appeanceof his or her teeth.” Dr. Vner offers five suggestions that may help. 1.Let your child know that most kids even into their ely teens maystill have baby teeth andas he/shegets older and more permanent teeth appe, his/her looks and smile will change. And the looks and smiles of the kids making fun of him/her will change, too. 2.Make an appointment with an orthodontist who is a member of the AAO, which recommends that every child see an orthodontist no later than age 7 in order to check for abnormalities or issues One way pents can protect their youngsters from bullying is to provide proper dental ce. that could benefit from ely orthodontic treatment. Most children won’t need it, but it’s a good idea to makesure your child’s jaw andbite e developing normally. 3.At the appointment, ask the orthodontist to explain to your child that orthodontic treatment creates a healthy, beautiful smile. This will reassure the child that he/she won’t have that gap or overbite forever. 4. Someorthodontists offer computer imaging that shows how your child may look after orthodontic treatment. Seeing this transformation can be exciting and reassuring, soothing your child’s fes about how he/she will look. 5.Find photos of celebrities when they were young. Many who had crooked teeth or gap-toothed smiles grew up to be successful athletes, actors, tists, writers, world leaders and more. It can help send the message that you’re not worried about how his/her teeth look and he/she needn’t be, either. To locate a neby orthodontist, visit www.mylifemysmile.org, the official website of the American Association of Orthodontists.
