On average, seven out of every 10 Mexican teenagers wear dental braces. This has become a prevalent tendency not only in Mexico, but all over the world, stated Rogelio Scougall Vilchis, coordinator of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies on Odontology (CIEAO) at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEM).
Scougall Vilchis said that the last three decades have seen an increase in the use of dental braces mainly due to evolutionary factors. Even though the size human teeth has remained the same for centuries, jawbones have grown smaller and thiner, he explained.
Today’s diet is another main factor behind the problem, added Scougall Vilchis. People now consume more processed and soft foods, which require much less effort to chew.
He later emphasized that although most people perceive dental treatment to be just a matter of looks, it actually enhances important bodily processes, such as mastication. That’s why dental checkups at an early age are crucial to avoid the development or intensification of problems in later years, he concluded.
