What Parents Need to Know
Facial Development and Airway Health are Always Related
A healthy airway tends to be a catalyst for healthy growth and development in children. Conversely, a compromised airway tends to be a catalyst for unhealthy sleep and breathing.
Where Did This Come From?
The content of this presentation is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen in this presentation. Individual results may vary.
Nasal breathing
Why should your child breathe through their nose?
Benefits of nasal breathing include:
- Warms, moistens and filters the air
- Traps large particles
- Facilitates inhalation of nitric oxide
- Helps prevent colds, flu, allergic reaction, hay fever, irritable coughing
- Prevents throat and nasal dryness
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Promotes activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms and relaxes the body
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of mouth breathing in children include
- Poor performance in school
- Difficulty paying attention
- Learning problems
- Behavioral problems
- Under/Over weight
- Hyperactivity
- ADD/ADHD type symptoms
- Snoring
- Pauses in breathing
- Restless sleep
- Snorting, coughing or choking
- Mouth breathing
- Bed wetting
- Sleep terrors
Snoring is not normal. If your child is snoring, it could be due to a compromised airway leading to improper facial development.
Facial Development
Sleep/Airway Health
Tongue Tie
In the short term, a tongue tie can lead to
- Breast feeding problems
- Speech difficulties
- Poor Oral Hygiene
If left unresolved, a tongue tie can lead to
- Improper facial development
- Compromised Airway
- Sleep & TMJ problems
A tongue tie release (frenectomies) is a simple, effective, in office procedure to treat this condition!
Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy is a natural, holistic, non-invasive program that is used to help correct habits, improve facial muscle function, and support proper development and function.
When it comes to kids, it’s about proper facial development and an optimal airway.
Goals of myofunctional therapy are; help your child gain better control of his or her tongue, learn to breathe through the nose with their mouth closed and position his/her tongue at the roof of the mouth when they are at rest.
When these goals are achieved, it can result in more optimal growth and development, a healthier airway, better facial balance and appearance, healthier jaw joints, and better sleep.
Facial Development
A Strong Profile Is About MUCH MORE than good looks
Proper facial development is a term that is becoming more and more popular in dentistry and orthodontics.
Proper facial development refers to the top and bottom jaws growing up and out in the face instead of down and back. This not only leads to better looking faces, it also can lead to long term health benefits including:
- A larger airway
- Healthier Jaw Joints
- Better breathing and sleep habits
- More optimized overall growth and development
Optimal Facial development in kids is usually achieved using Removable Appliances
Links
righttogrow.org
Anterior Growth Guidance Appliances
Vivos Growth Appliances