Did you know that the look of your face and the spacing or crowding of your teeth could have a lot to do with the way you swallow and rest your tongue and jaw? We are talking about your facial posture. Many people assume you look the way that you do due to genetics and that is a huge part of it. But some of the subtleties and issues with your teeth have to do with your facial and tongue posture. If you think about it, most babies look very similar but as they start to grow and learn to walk, crawl, talk and eat; they are shaping your body. That is when they start to look different and individualized. Facial meltdown is a term used to describe the changes that take place in your looks due to bad tongue and facial postures. Most of the time these problems present themselves as crooked and crowded teeth or poorly developed airways. By the time a child has lost their baby teeth and grown in adult teeth, these issues may become more apparent. They could require intervention by an orthodontist to correct the problem. A better solution is to know what facial posture is and what the optimal posture should be so that you can help your family and children before it becomes a problem. The first step is to be sure that your child’s teeth are well taken care of by a regular dental exam and cleaning at a trusted pediatric dentist’s office.
Smile Reef has a list of facial and tongue postures you can check with your children to make sure they are following good oral positioning habits.
How Do You Swallow? This is a big deal when it comes to the spacing and shape of your jaw and teeth. When you swallow food or a beverage, you should be able to do it in a very relaxed state. You should never be straining to do this and if you are, you could be heading towards damage to your teeth. To check if you are swallowing correctly you can place a finger on your chin and swallow. Did your muscles tighten? Did your chin move forward or back? If not, then you got it right!
Where Should Your Tongue Rest When Your Mouth is Closed? Your tongue is a giant muscle that is able to manipulate and move your teeth if given the chance. Your tongue has the ability to shift your teeth or bite and make it necessary to have some kind of corrective procedure. The best place for your tongue to rest is at the roof of your mouth and about a half inch away from your top teeth. You do not want it pushing on your teeth even in the slightest.
Does Your Mouth Hang Open a Lot? When you have stopped eating and are not talking to anyone, are you lips apart or sealed together? For optimal facial posture you want to have your lips closed for all other activities. Even if you are working out you want to use your nose to breathe not have your mouth open. This can lead to your face looking like it is droopy and will over time adjust your bite to either an underbite.
Smile Reef offers expert dental care for children in the Las Vegas Nevada area. Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment.
