Following the announcement, the practice offers tongue placement therapy as part of its suite of treatments targeting common orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). The therapy is an early-stage intervention developed to avert the possibility of teeth or jaw misalignment in kids who have developed the habit of tongue-thrusting and is in line with the team’s broader initiative to help children across Washington, DC feed better, breathe easier, speak clearer, smile brighter and sleep better.
More information is available 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. Parents who have spotted signs such as mouth breathing, inability to fully close their lips, or lisping, can now book a treatment with the practice to prevent facial development and bite disorders.
Tongue thrusting is a natural reflex for pushing solid food away from the throat to avoid choking that 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 parents are concerned that their 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 the 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.
Additional details can be found 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.
More details are available at https://www.mychildrenschoicedental.com/services/laser-dentistry
Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics- Washington, DC
+1-202-410-0088
2013 Bunker Hill Rd NE
COMTEX_440164706/2764/2023-09-13T22:53:16
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Sahyadri Times journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
