Definition Bullying is the aggressive behavior or deliberate harm repeatedly towards another person or group. Bullying can be physical, verbal or indirect by the manipulation of social relationships with gossip, rumors or exclusion. We are all aware that bullying is a national problem and unfortunately most people have probably experienced some form of bullying at one time or another in their lives. Unfortunately bullying can have a negative effect on one’s self-esteem and outlook. Statistics from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services and the UCLA Psychology Department have published these statistics for 2014:
- 20% of U.S. students in grades 9-12 reportedly have experienced bullying
- 28% of students in grades 6-12 report the same. Experts agree that most incidences of bullying occur during middle school.
Most of the students report name calling as the most prevalent type of bullying.
- 44.2% of bullying is teasing which is playing jokes and calling a child names
- 43.3% of children have rumors and lies spread about them verbally or online
- 36.3 % of children experience pushing and shoving in lines or class
- 32.4% report hitting, shoving, and kicking by peers
- 29.2% have been left out or ignored by classmates
The American Academy of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics conducted a study among sixth graders which revealed the number one physical feature that leads to bullying was the appearance of a child’s teeth. Features such as missing teeth, odd spacing between teeth, shape or color of teeth and prominent upper front teeth were all things children were commonly teased about.
The good news is that often something can be done to improve the appearance of teeth. At Reagin Orthodontics we recommend the best treatment plan for your child that not only corrects teeth for improved alignment and bite, but hopefully will help your child feel better about how their teeth looks. We all want children to feel confident.
If your child has expressed concern about their teeth or you feel they may be teased about the appearance of their teeth, summer is a great time to be proactive and have a free consultation by Dr. Reagin to determine a treatment plan. Even if treatment is not recommended at the current point in time, your child will feel better knowing that a plan is in place for the future. This can help them face the new school year confidently.
You may think your child is too young for an orthodontic evaluation, but that is probably not the case! Once your child turns seven a consultation is recommended so early intervention can take place if necessary. Call us and set up your appointment today and get a jump start on the school year and take a proactive approach in preventing bullying due to the appearance of teeth!
Resources: http://nobullying.com/bullying-statistics-2014/
http://www.mylifemysmile.org/sites/default/files/Bullying%20Press%20Release.pdf