What Do Teeth, Jaws, Posture, and Breathing Have in Common?

Having good, open upper airway allowing you to breathe easily through your nose with your mouth closed provides the most effective means of obtaining oxygen.  But it is also extremely important in the way the dental arch forms, including the spacing and alignment of the teeth and jaws.

Long-term (chronic) restricted upper airway can have a negative effect on the growth and development of the face and jaws; growth that occurs mostly before the onset of puberty.  Continually breathing through the mouth can contribute to issues such as:

• Forward head posture – which over time affects the health of the neck and spine.
• Open bite – a condition where a person’s front teeth do not come together when the back teeth are together due to tongue thrust when swallowing.
• A narrow “V” shape roof of the mouth rather than a normal wide, flat shape resulting in lack of space for the teeth to be aligned properly.
• Crooked teeth.
• Sleep Disorders.
• Attention and behavioral issues.

It is important at any age to understand the ramifications upper airway restriction has in relation to dental health, first to watch for symptoms in our young children but also to eliminate as a major complicating factor in any significant dental work one may need as an adult.

08/09/2006 Female Age 10  Restricted airway (adenoids lingual tonsils); head down & forward. Poor neck posture. 5mm airway space	01/15/2008 Female Age 11  After removal of tonsils & adenoids 11/2006; head posture up & back.  Normal neck posture. 15 mm airway space

Once any underlying medical condition has been corrected, dental problems can then be evaluated and treated more effectively and with less likelihood of relapse.  The speed with which correction is done will depend on factors such as the age of the patient and the particular circumstances of each case.   By the age of 18-20, bone growth and development is largely completed and treatment becomes more difficult and expensive ~ so the earlier the condition is treated, the easier the correction is!

A quick in-office evaluation and assessment can provide you or your child with important information that impacts not only your dental health but your overall medical well-being.  Give our office a call to schedule an initial complimentary consultation at (757) 229-3052.

For more information visit, www.myotronics.com.