By: Dr Neda Gorji
5 tips to help kids thrive, grow beautiful and avoid braces
For many years everyone has blamed their parents for their need for braces and problems with their teeth. As with all things there is truth in every statement and our parents, history and nationality have their roles to play in our potential.
The key word being ‘potential,’ when you think about that code, those genes, they are not guaranteed, how much of our genetic potential is unlocked depends on the choices we make and the habits we create.
Below are 5 tips to help prevent unfavorable positioning of teeth and jaws;
1. Breastfeed (if possible) or feed in a more upright position
It is now well known that breast milk helps develop your baby’s immune system thanks to all the added extras the mother’s body provides. What is not talked about is that the effort a baby naturally goes through during the natural feed promotes healthy jaw growth. The habit of breast feeding helps put the tongue in the right position and strengthens the right muscles.
Cannot Breastfeed: There are now special bottles that mimic the breast if breast feeding is not possible, if the baby has trouble latching seek a professional opinion to check for tongue or lip ties. Hot Tip: When bottle feeding make sure the child is not lying on their back with a bottle that allows a constant flow of liquid without effort, this can develop a strange swallowing habit that can affect facial growth. Did you know that Dentists can help? From help with oral restrictions and habit corrections to writing the right referrals, it is important to get in early!
2. Eat Well
In recent times many people eat very processed foods, which are often high in sugar and low in nutrition. The studies show the importance of eating unprocessed sometimes raw fruit, vegetables and animal proteins.
What people may not realise is that the mostly soft processed food can make our muscles lazy and not work like they are supposed to, not to mention how important it is to get all the right vitamins and minerals. Trouble with swallowing and gagging could be a sign of obstruction, big tonsils or bad habits such as chronic mouth breathing. The Dentist can help, we can often identify hidden sugars in your diet and put you on track to thrive.
3. Breathe through the nose
Mouths are designed for eating and speaking, our noses are designed for filtering the air we breathe. This can be really difficult for some children with the rise of allergies particularly to pollens and dust mites, but it is a really important habit to get into particularly when sleeping. Chronic mouth breathing is a habit that causes a very big change in the way the face works and grows, causing narrow top jaws, poor quality sleep and higher risk of holes in teeth. A child that breathes through their mouth has greater problems concentrating at school, is at a higher risk of sleep apnoea and is more likely to have serious tooth and jaw problems. There are many ways Park St Dental Practice can help; drop in for a consult with Dr Andrzej Osipowicz and you will be surprised by how many simple strategies can make lasting health changes.
4. Lose the Dummy Early
This can be really hard, as the dummy becomes the go to object for comfort and an easy way to plug a noise hole. The problem is the dummy works like a trainer changing the way the lips should fit together and where the tongue sits in the mouth. Try using alternative comforting items such as favorite plush toys or blankets as long as they are not sucking on them.
Long term dummy use, thumb/finger/blanket sucking and strange swallowing habits often cause changes in the way the teeth meet and in which positions they grow. Often adults with teeth that do not meet in the front are more likely to suffer from headaches and migraines.
5. Sleep Right
Make sure children are getting enough quality sleep! If your child snores or breathes loudly, sweats excessively, moves around a lot in bed they are unlikely to be getting quality sleep and this is super important. Without quality deep sleep children never recover and do not get all the hormones they need to grow healthy. It is not about quantity (still important) and all about quality, a child who wakes up tired after plenty of sleep, with bags under their eyes and who is tired often is a child who needs attention from someone trained to help.
At Park St Dental we take special care of these children and have several strategies that can improve symptoms! Sleep habits are a big topic, stay tuned for more information coming soon.