Is your child lisping their “s” or “z” sounds or breathing through the mouth even if they don’t have a stuffy nose? Schedule an appointment at Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in Washington, DC (202-410-0088) for the right diagnosis and treatment!
Introducing solid foods is an exciting milestone along with crawling and walking for us as parents. This is also the period when they start to lose the tongue-thrust reflex, which played a vital role while you were nursing (or bottle-feeding) your baby. However, if this reflex evolves into a habit and continues into your kid's post-toddler year, it might become a problem.
To avert potential problems in the future such as speech impediments, teeth misalignment, and improper jaw development, you need professional help from an expert in facial and oral muscle disorders. Contact Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in Washington, DC to stop your child from carrying tongue thrust forward into adulthood!
Find out more at https://www.mychildrenschoicedental.com/thrive-myofunctional-therapy
Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics explains that while normal and a much-needed function in a baby’s first months, tongue thrusting may become an issue if it strengthens as a habit after age four. If you have spotted signs in your kid such as mouth breathing, inability to fully close their lips, or lisping, you are strongly encouraged to book a treatment with the practice to prevent facial development and bite disorders.
Tongue thrusting is a natural reflex in infants for pushing solid food away from their throat to avoid choking, which also presents during their first months when they are being breastfed or bottle fed. Most kids outgrow tongue thrusting by the age of four and this reflex transitions into a mature swallowing pattern by age 7 or 8. In cases when a child keeps pushing their tongue against or between the front teeth when they speak or swallow after that age, the habit may lead to an OMD if left untreated.
If you are concerned that your child has developed a tongue thrust habit, Children’s Choice recommends making an appointment for an examination and diagnosis. The team will then come up with a tailored therapy that will encompass training your child on proper tongue placement, swallowing, and nasal breathing. These modalities also combine to prevent the development of an overbite or open bite that is usually the result of mouth breathing and hinders a child's ability to eat or chew in the right manner.
Request an appointment at https://www.mychildrenschoicedental.com/
In addition to these therapies, Children’s Choice also offers laser dentistry treatments that utilize advanced technology to resolve issues such as problems with breastfeeding, and lip and tongue issues. The practice performs frenotomies and frenectomies for kids born with ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) or lip-tie.
If your child needs help with feeding, speech, breathing, or eating issues, you will find all these treatments at Children’s Choice under one roof!
Find out more about this treatment at https://www.mychildrenschoicedental.com/services/laser-dentistry
