
Did you know that three out of four children have crowded teeth and incorrectly developing jaws? These problems can be spotted from as early as five years of age. Modern research has shown that crowded teeth, incorrect jaw development and other orthodontic problems are caused not just by big teeth in small jaws or hereditary factors, but also by bad habits such as mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, reverse swallowing and thumb sucking. Allergies, asthma and an open mouth posture can also contribute. Regular orthodontic treatment does not always address the underlying causes of crooked teeth. This is why teeth very often crowd up again once braces have been removed.
Book AppointmentA number of factors can lead to an open bite: harmful habits such as finger sucking or use of a dummy; or functional disorders such as inadequate pressure for an optimal position of the tongue during swallowing and speech.
There are many causes of mouth breathing. Some of the most common are: allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, enlarged tonsils, or nose fractures.
Absolutely – numerous published studies have shown myofunctional therapy to be an effective, long-lasting method of tackling orthodontic problems.
This will vary between cases and will depend on the issue to be alleviated. Children with sucking habits, for example, can benefit from therapy from as young as 5 years old, while those with other functional problems such as tongue thrusting can be deferred until 8 or 9 years of age. This is something we will discuss with you at your initial consultation.
* These fields are required