When we hear about bullying we think about kids and teenagers making fun of a peer due to a number of different reasons, perhaps the way they dress, or the way they look, weight problems, acne, or different social problems; rarely do we link dental problems with bullying.

But the fact is according to a study published by the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics that unattractive teeth may be linked to bullying specially among children 11-12 years old.

Misaligned and crooked teeth increases the child’s chance of being bullied and hurts their self-esteem. The study “Bullying among Jordanian schoolchildren, its effects on school performance and the contribution of general physical and dentofacial features”, was conducted among sixth grade students in Amman, Jordan, but according to the American Association of Orthodontists it can easily translate to the experiences of American children, after all, bullying is a global concern.

The study establishes “Teeth were the physical feature that appeared to be targeted most frequently by bullies, followed by strength and weight”, and continues “The dentofacial features about which victims are bullied were spaced or missing teeth, shape and color of teeth, and prominent maxillary anterior teeth”

“Probably one of the most overlooked areas of research in orthodontics today is trauma and psychosocial effects on a child with severe crowding and overbites. I firmly believe that early treatment is one of the most beneficial things for a young kid’s self-esteem” said orthodontist Michael W. Ragan

Bullying leads to a number of different problems: violence, depression, poor school performance, among others.

Experts at the Flikier Institute of Oral Rehabilitation in Costa Rica explained – “Taking good care of your child’s teeth will not only contribute to their overall health but it will help them be more confident, it will improve their self-esteem and it will allow them to enjoy their school years without fear of being targeted because of a dental problem that can be easily corrected”; “Here at Flikier Institute we provide different pediatric dental treatments and we also educate our patients in the importance of having good oral health, we try to make it fun and make them feel comfortable since it’s important that children don’t fear coming to the dentist, and instead their visit is relaxing and pleasant”.

A simple dental treatment can improve a child’s condition and their overall quality of life.