Teeth Development and Jaw Development in Young Children

Proper teeth development and jaw development are imperative to the long-term wellness of children. There are a few key factors that parents should be aware of when it comes to mouth breathing and jaw development, because this can completely change your child’s face shape and cause breathing and development issues later in life. Trust Northern Beaches Dental Practice in Frenchs Forest with your child’s dentistry and we can assure you that we will guide you and your child in the right direction for proper development. We can also advise you on the potential benefits of mouthguards for sleeping and ensure that the ‘big three’ influences on facial and jaw development are closely monitored.

How to Manage the Teething Process

With a baby’s first dental eruption comes the teething process and this is where proper jaw and facial development really begins. Generally, the average child will have their full set of 20 teeth by age three. The teething process for each of these is about eight days and every parent knows that it can be hard to keep a baby comfortable during this time. Some things you can do to help your baby in the process include:

• Massage
• Chilled or frozen teething rings
• Unsweetened teething rusks
• Pain-relieving medications (but teething gels are not recommended)
• Drying any drool to prevent irritation

Once the process is complete, it is imperative that the baby teeth are properly looked after as these are placeholders for the adult teeth. This is also where your child learns correct oral hygiene habits.

The Big Three Influences on Facial & Jaw Development in Children

The resting oral posture that is correct for proper facial development in children and teenagers, or the ‘Big Three’, are:

• Proper tongue posture
• Lips sealed with teeth lightly touching
• Nasal breathing

The maxilla and the mandible bones make up the lower half of the face and these structures cannot develop to their genetic potential if the surrounding muscles are not applying forces appropriately. The absence of the ‘Big Three’ during growth and development brings disharmony and imbalance of the craniofacial structure. This can result in conditions known as mid-face deficiency and long-face syndrome.

Mouth breathing and jaw development is another important aspect to look out for. Many parents are not aware that if their child sleeps with their mouth open, whether because of allergies or enlarged tonsils and adenoids, this can cause improper facial development. Critical for airway development, jaw joint health and facial growth, your child should exclusively breathe from the nose, with the lips together, the tongue up and the teeth together.

Why Mouthguards are Important

If your child plays a sport, is active, accident-prone or has a problem with teeth clenching or teeth grinding, a mouthguard from your local dentist may be the answer. Talk to your local dentist today about mouthguard and splint options, custom made for children.

Book an Appointment Online Today

Understand the complexities of jaw development and facial structure in children and ensure a clear path for their future, with Northern Beaches Dental. Book an appointment online now for the whole family.