What Is The Best Age For Braces?

Posted on 03/16/2026

For over 15 years, Taddeo Orthodontics has been helping patients in East Orlando flash their best smiles with confidence. We love seeing how patients of all ages positively react to their progress and transformations. A common question we get at our East Orlando orthodontics practice is about the best age to improve their dental alignment with braces. The general answer is: The best age is the age you decide to boost oral health and confidence with our treatments. We treat young and senior patients; age-wise, however, there are specific windows that offer the most efficient results.

Getting Braces in Waterford Lakes

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an initial evaluation by age 7. At this age, the first permanent molars have typically erupted to establish a firm back bite, thus allowing dentists to assess how teeth are aligning from front-to-back and side-to-side. A primary goal in this assessment is to detect early signs of teeth overcrowding or jaw misalignment. This early detection strategy can help to prevent extractions or surgical procedures in the future, and it does not always result in immediate treatment.

The recommendation to parents of patients under age 7 is to look for specific signs that may suggest the need for early orthodontics. We will review the main symptoms below; please contact our office if you notice others.

Mouth Breathing

When breathing through the mouth rather than the nose becomes a chronic issue, some young patients develop an open bite or a narrow upper arch. Addressing this early helps ensure the face and jaw can develop correctly.

Baby Teeth Formation and Loss

Losing teeth prematurely or too late can be problematic. Lingering baby teeth can force future teeth to emerge at odd angles, thus leading to crowding and alignment issues later in life.

Irregular Chewing or Biting

Biting the inside of the cheek or struggling to chew are signs of a misaligned bite emerging early. Overbites are more common, followed by underbites and crossbites. When we can correct these functional irregularities early, they prevent uneven tooth wear and jaw strain.

Lower Jaw Shifting

A clicking or shifting jaw is often a sign that the upper and lower teeth are not meeting properly, forcing the jaw to settle into a comfortable but incorrect resting position. This can devolve into chronic jaw pain over the years; if left unaddressed, it can lead to facial asymmetry.

Imbalanced Facial Features

As the maxillofacial structure develops, smiles become aesthetically foundational because they shape features surrounding the chin and lips. Misaligned teeth can lead to an unbalanced appearance. Some patients develop long-term health complications like malocclusion and temporomandibular joint disorders.

The "Sweet Spot" for Eastwood Braces

For many patients, getting active orthodontic treatment is better between ages 10 and 14, a common recommendation echoed by the American Dental Association. The head and mouth are still growing during these ages, thus making it much easier for braces to guide teeth into their ideal positions.

For many young patients, this is a "golden window" that allows orthodontists to harness natural growth spurts that can influence jaw alignment more effectively. Most permanent teeth have settled by age 10, and the bone tissue is still pliable enough to respond to the pressure and tension of braces.

To learn more about the best age to get braces and start orthodontic treatments, please contact Taddeo Orthodontics and book an evaluation.