Bad Habits And How It Affects The Face
Dr. J is an orthodontist with a passion for creating smile transformations for all of his patients so they can experience the benefits of a happier and healthier smile. Our doctor had a vision that he wanted to create a practice that is a welcoming space for all potential patients and is staffed with a knowledgeable team... more
The face changes with time as you have muscles, skin, teeth, and bones. The two most important elements that directly affect growth are genetics and function. And the function is the one thing we can control in a positive way by modifying any bad habits. These bad habits can lead to irreversible anomalies in the face.
In a previous Blog, I spoke about the dangers of thumb-sucking. Thumb-sucking can lead to an open bite. And an open bite can lead to distortion/narrowing of the upper jaw (maxilla), mouth breathing, and lip incompetence to name a few. As a secondary effect, a dry mouth can lead to gums that are not moist and are prone to infections and hypertrophy of the adenoids and tonsils.
Another important secondary effect is the weakening of the muscles surrounding the mouth (orbicular oris). And this will affect the neighboring muscles as well (pharyngeal constrictor and buccinator). This group of muscles called the buccinator mechanism is responsible for swallowing, pronunciation, sucking, and chewing to name a few.
All of this turns into a vicious cycle of swallowing issues with tongue thrust and an open bite that continues. With this type of swallowing the tongue shoots forward toward the front of the mouth pushing the teeth and lips forward. With all this going on a child will have trouble breathing. A mouth breather slumps forward with a narrow face, tired eyes, narrow airways, poor definition of the cheekbones, and a backward-positioned chin.
Seeing an orthodontist at an early age is essential to diagnose and treat. A widener for the upper jaw, breaking the bad habits, and a good myofunctional therapist can save you from serious irreversible anomalies/problems down the road.
Here is the link to my website for further information:
https://stellarsmilesortho.com/orthodontics/early-treatment/
