Unfortunately, almost one in three students report bullying at school. This can have significant effects on their mental and physical health that can persist into adulthood. Bullying is a worldwide social health problem, and a consistent issue among children and teens. Many children report being bullied due to the appearance of their teeth and smile. Orthodontists and other oral healthcare professionals play an important role in identifying dental characteristics associated with bullying. Orthodontic solutions can provide esthetic improvements as well as a pathway to greater self-confidence.
Bullying at it’s Core
Bullying is described as a form of aggression with an imbalance of power, whereby a more powerful individual repeatedly and intentionally causes harm to a weaker individual. Bullying can take place in different forms. This includes direct (hitting, kicking, verbal insults, and threats) or indirect (gossip, spreading of rumors, and social exclusion) forms of aggression.
The Reality of Bullying Linked to Dental Issues
A recent 2024 study published in the Pediatric Dentistry Journal found that more than half of the schoolchildren aged 10 to 12 years old report being bullied, and that teeth were the third most frequently cited physical feature they are bullied for. The most perceived dental features targeted by bullies are reported to include crooked teeth, tooth shape or color, upper front teeth sticking out, gaps between teeth, and missing front teeth.
The Emotional Toll of Bullying
Bullying can have both short- and long-term effects on victims. Students who are bullied are significantly more likely to feel sad (51%), or to report thinking about suicide (39%) or attempting suicide (18%) compared with those who were not bullied. Victims tend to be anxious and insecure with low self-esteem. Bullying can result in behavioral and emotional problems for the victims, including stress, decreased self-esteem, anxiety, depression, poor academic performance, and self-harm. Victims of bullying often withdraw from social activities, fearing ridicule. This isolation can promote feelings of loneliness and low self-esteem, making it even harder for them to seek support or make new friends.
The repercussions of bullying can extend into adulthood. Depressive tendencies have been reported to persist into adolescence and adulthood for victims of bullying, even after bullying has stopped. Victims followed from childhood to adulthood have been reported to have an increased risk for internalizing problems, anxiety disorder, and depression, challenges in forming personal relationships, as well as reports of poorer general health, more body pain and slow recovery from illnesses.
How Orthodontists Can Help
Raising awareness and addressing bullying is important for fostering healthy emotional development in children and teens. Dentists and Orthodontists can help nurture confidence, resilience, and a supportive environment for children and teens being bullied by:
1. Spreading Awareness: Oral healthcare professionals can promote anti-bullying campaigns that encourage empathy, respect for peers, and a safe environment.
2. Offering Professional Guidance: Dentists and Orthodontists can provide resources for children and parents, and help to encourage open dialogue. They can provide an encouraging environment during appointments. Maintaining open lines of communication can help children feel understood and less isolated. Celebrating small milestones during treatment can help boost a child's confidence throughout the process.
3. Improving Dental Esthetics: Orthodontic treatment offers a way to address dental issues children might be struggling with and the bullying that sometimes accompanies them. Braces, aligners, and other orthodontic treatments can correct crooked teeth, gaps, and bite problems.
4. Boosting Self-Confidence: Studies show that children who undergo orthodontic treatment often experience a marked improvement in self-esteem. Once braces are removed, many individuals feel more confident and more socially accepted, leading to a more positive self-image.
5. Enhancing Oral Health: Beyond aesthetics, orthodontics improves overall dental health by correcting dental misalignments and making it easier to maintain oral hygiene. A healthier mouth contributes to a child's overall well-being.
How the AAO is helping
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) partners with Stand for the Silent to recognize National Bullying Prevention Month, which coincides with National Orthodontic Health Month every year. We can all work together to prevent bullying and promote a safe and healthy environment. Each October, the AAO challenges you to come together against bullying. Orthodontists continue to take a stand and encourage their patients to do the same.
Conclusion
Bullying remains a consistent problem among adolescents, with long-term emotional and health effects. Dental appearance is the third most frequently cited physical feature children are bullied for. Orthodontics offers a powerful tool for change, providing not only physical improvements but also a pathway to enhanced self-esteem and social acceptance. By addressing bullying and supporting children and anti-bullying efforts, we can help foster confidence. At Godley Family Orthodontics, our team stands against bullying.
References
Martins Maia PR, Fialho T, Salvatore Freitas KM, Cotrin P, Pinelli Valarelli F, de Tavares RRJ, Araújo de Gurgel J, Pinzan-Vercelino CRM. Relationship Between Dentofacial Features and Bullying in School children. Pediatr Dent. 2024 Mar 15;46(2):99-107. PMID: 38664906.
Broutin A, Blanchet I, Canceill T, Noirrit-Esclassan E. Association between Dentofacial Features and Bullying from Childhood to Adulthood: A Systematic Review. Children (Basel). 2023 May 25;10(6):934. doi: 10.3390/children10060934. PMID: 37371166; PMCID: PMC10297497.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2024). Student Bullying. Condition of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 2024 Sept, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/a10.
Al-Bittar ZB, Al-Omari IK, Sonbol HN, Al-Ahmad HT, Cunningham SJ. Bullying among Jordanian schoolchildren, its effects on social performance, and the contribution of general and physical dentofacial features. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop. 2013;144:872–878.
Artese F. The orthodontist's reach in bullying. Dental Press J Orthod. 2019 May 20;24(2):15-16. doi: 10.1590/2177-6709.24.2.015-016.edt. PMID: 31116281; PMCID: PMC6526762.
Dineen Wagner, K. (2016). CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY. Bullying and Depression in Youths. Psychiatric Times, 33(2), 26-28.
Al-Omari I.K., Al-Bitar Z.B., Sonbol H.N., Al-Ahmad H.T., Cunningham S.J., Al-Omiri M. Impact of Bullying Due to Dentofacial Features on Oral Health–Related Quality of Life. Am. J. Orthod. Dentofac. Orthop. 2014;146:734–739. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2014.08.011.
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