Children and Dental Health
Dental issues are costly in many ways.Your 5-year old is still sucking his thumb. You worry his front teeth will start to turn outwards, triggering beaver comments from classmates. Lots of cavities mean a stressful time at every dental appointment. Swollen adenoids and inflamed tonsils might indicate surgery for the 8 year old.
Their teeth are already crooked and your dentist is talking about removing teeth before straightening what is left, for a hefty fee you can't afford right now. You might think that you are both stuck with this situation. But that is just not true. |
Orthodontic work is not the only choice.Breathing improperly, especially mouth breathing, has a huge impact on dental health and facial formation.
A mouth breathing child will have their tongue resting on the floor of their mouth. The jaw will drop and move back, eventually encroaching on the airway, causing snoring, and possibly sleep apnea. With no tongue to form the upper jaw into a shallow 'U' shape, the jaw becomes long and narrow, creating a 'V' shape, which leads to crowded teeth and misaligned bites. The lower face becomes longer, the outside of cheek bones sag and the facial proportions lose their pleasing proportions. The tongue becomes lazy which also leads to improper swallowing and speech difficulties. By improving breathing, all of these issues can be addressed, quickly and permanently - which is good news for your child's dental health and your pocket book! |
Timing is everything.Your child's facial and dental development moves at lightning speed. Do something now, while their malleability is at its peak. But if your child is a teenager or older, don't be discouraged. A great deal of change is still possible - In recent years, I have seen improvement in my jaw formation and physical appearance and I'm in my 50s!
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