Unchecked bad habits can be the main cause for orthodontic treatment if not checked early.

Eliminating bad habits such as tongue thrust, mouth breathing and thumb sucking with the cooperation of the patient are a big part of orthodontics and can be the key to creating a perfect smile and keeping it.

Changing these habits and irregularities will have many benefits for the patient. Decreasing abnormal wear on teeth due to having an improper bite will make it easier to keep your mouth clean and reduce the risk of dental caries.

If these habits cannot be eliminated, relapse of old issues will reappear.

If your child does any of the above we have a program in place, in line with orthodontic treatment, to help them control the habit. Give us a call to book an appointment or orthodontic assessment.

Tongue Thrust

Did you know that your child’s tongue can push teeth with 400gm’s of force at any given moment? That a lot!! Unfortunately some kids get in a habit where the most comfortable place for their tongue when they’re relaxing is the back of their teeth. This means that while they’re unaware they’re doing it, the child is pushing their teeth out of alignment. This is a habit that needs to be retrained as soon as possible and as young as possible.

Mouth-Breathing

Is your child mouth breathing at night? Do they sleep with their mouth open? Did you now this is actually bad for them and their teeth? Mouth-breathing dries out the mouth, removing the first defense against oral bacteria. This can lead to consequences such as chronic bad breath and tooth decay.

Lack of energy: getting less oxygen by breathing through the mouth will result in poor sleep quality and lowered energy levels overall.

In children, mouth-breathing can cause crooked teeth, facial deformities, or poor growth

Thumb-Sucking

Thumb sucking can have long-lasting negative side effects if the habit persists past age four. Open bite occurs when the top and bottom front teeth become directed outward. This misalignment means that the front teeth do not touch, even with your child's mouth closed completely. Open bite may require orthodontic correction in the future or may complicate other dental misalignment’s that necessitate orthodontic treatment. Because thumb sucking affects the development of the teeth, jaw, and palate, the habit can also change how your child eats and speaks. Thumb sucking may cause lisping and other speech impediments, including an inability to pronounce hard consonant sounds like "D" and "T." Without correct dental care, even high-quality speech therapy may not fully correct these impediments because the deformed sounds are partially caused by the shape of your child's teeth in relation to his or her tongue.

Does your child have dark circles under their eyes? Does your child seem like they always have allergies?

These can be signs that something is wrong