Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder Archives - Eggert Family Dentistry Blog

Oral Facial Development and the Origins of Mewing

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Facial development plays a crucial role in many aspects of life, including breathing, eating, talking, and even your overall appearance. The way your face grows and develops is influenced by various factors, including genetics, environmental influences, and habits that you may not even realize are affecting you or your children. Understanding the connection between facial structure and function can help you make better decisions for your health and well-being. At Eggert Family Dentistry in North Oaks, MN, Dr. Jeff Eggert and Dr. Elizabeth Eggert are here to guide you in recognizing and correcting any issues related to facial development.

Why is facial development important?

One of the most important aspects of facial development is how it impacts your ability to breathe properly. The position of your jaws, the width of your palate, and the alignment of your teeth all contribute to how well you can breathe through your nose. Improper development in these areas can lead to mouth breathing, which is less efficient and can contribute to a range of health issues, including sleep apnea and other breathing disorders. This is why it’s so important to pay attention to the development of your child’s facial structure from an early age.

Eating is another daily activity that is deeply affected by the development of your facial structure. If your jaw is misaligned or your teeth are crowded, it can make chewing difficult and uncomfortable. This can lead to improper digestion, as food may not be adequately broken down before it reaches your stomach. Additionally, the position of your teeth and jaw can affect how you swallow, which is another important part of the eating process. Ensuring that your facial structure is developing properly can help prevent these issues and promote better overall health.

Talking is a vital part of communication, and your facial development plays a key role in your ability to speak clearly and confidently. The position of your teeth, tongue, and jaw all contribute to the formation of sounds. If there are issues with the development of your facial structure, it can lead to speech impediments or difficulties in articulation. This can be especially challenging for children as they learn to speak, and it’s something that parents should be aware of as their children grow.

What is “mewing” and how is it related to facial development?

One trend that has gained significant attention in recent years is “mewing,” a technique that involves positioning your tongue against the roof of your mouth to encourage proper facial development. This practice was popularized by Dr. John Mew, an orthodontist who believed that proper tongue posture could help shape the face and improve issues like misaligned teeth and poor jaw structure. Mewing has become especially popular among the younger generation, largely due to social media platforms where influencers and health enthusiasts share their experiences and results. The idea behind mewing is that by maintaining good tongue posture, you can promote a more attractive facial structure and prevent issues related to improper development.

The popularity of mewing highlights a growing awareness of the importance of facial development, particularly among young people who are interested in improving their appearance and overall health. While mewing can be beneficial, it’s important to approach it with caution and to seek professional advice to ensure that you’re doing it correctly and not causing any harm. Dr. Jeff Eggert and Dr. Elizabeth Eggert at Eggert Family Dentistry are knowledgeable about these trends and can help you determine whether mewing or other techniques might be appropriate for you or your child.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, Dr. Jeff Eggert and Dr. Elizabeth Eggert are dedicated to helping you and your family maintain healthy facial development. They can assess your facial structure, identify any potential issues, and provide guidance on how to address them. Whether it’s through orthodontic treatment, guidance on proper habits, or education on practices like mewing, they are here to support you in achieving optimal health and well-being. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Eggert Family Dentistry in North Oaks, MN, to schedule an appointment and learn more about how you can promote proper facial development for yourself and your children. Call us today, 651-482-8412!

How Thumb Sucking and Pacifier Use Affects Dental and Facial Development in Children

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How Thumb Sucking and Pacifier Use Affects Dental and Facial Development in Children

Thumb sucking and pacifier use are common soothing behaviors for infants and toddlers. While these habits provide comfort and are appropriate for the first few months of life, they can significantly affect your child’s dental and facial development if they continue too long. As a parent, understanding the potential consequences of prolonged thumb sucking and pacifier use is crucial for ensuring your child’s healthy development.

What happens?

When thumb sucking or pacifier use persists beyond the age of 12 months, it can start to impact the alignment of your child’s teeth and the shape of their jaws. These habits create constant pressure on the developing mouth, which can lead to problems such as an open bite, where the front teeth do not meet when the mouth is closed, or a crossbite, where the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth when biting down. Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert at Eggert Family Dentistry in North Oaks, MN, have seen firsthand how these habits can alter a child’s dental structure, leading to the need for orthodontic or other interventions.

In addition to dental alignment issues, thumb sucking and pacifier use can also affect the overall facial development of your child. Prolonged use of a pacifier or habitual thumb sucking can lead to changes in the shape of the jaw bones and the position of the teeth, which can impact the symmetry and esthetics of your child’s face. This can also contribute to speech and swallowing difficulties due to improper tongue positioning.

What can be done?

The good news is that the sooner you help your child break these habits, the more likely they are to develop a healthy dental and facial structure. Stopping thumb sucking and pacifier use at a young age allows your child’s mouth and jaw to develop correctly because they can get their tongue in a position that promotes proper development. This can then prevent the need for extensive dental work later on. You might be surprised by the positive changes that occur when these habits are stopped early, as the mouth and facial muscles begin to realign naturally. Here are some before and after photos of during pacifier use and after simply stopping pacifier use. You can see the teeth have mostly self-corrected on their own.

How to help your child give up their pacifier or thumb

To help your child give up their pacifier, consider gradually reducing its use by limiting it to certain times, such as bedtime only. You can also introduce a reward system to encourage your child to go without the pacifier during the day. If your child is older, you might try explaining why it’s important to stop using the pacifier, using age-appropriate language to help them understand. Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert often recommend these strategies to parents at Eggert Family Dentistry, as they have proven effective in many cases.

For thumb sucking, positive reinforcement is key, especially since you can’t keep the thumb away from the child! Praise your child when they refrain from sucking their thumb, and consider offering a small reward for keeping their thumb out of their mouth. You can also try using a bandage or a thumb guard to remind your child not to suck their thumb. If the habit is particularly persistent, consulting with the dentists at Eggert Family Dentistry, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert, can provide additional guidance and support tailored to your child’s needs. At Eggert Family Dentistry, we have found setting young children up with the Myobrace Infant Trainer can prove especially effective because it develops correct muscle posture as well as gives the child something to keep in their mouth.

By addressing thumb sucking and pacifier use early, you can help ensure your child develops a healthy, beautiful smile. At Eggert Family Dentistry in North Oaks, MN, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert are here to support you and your child through every stage of their dental development, offering personalized advice and care to help your child achieve the best possible outcomes. Call us today with questions about how to help you and your family! 651-482-8412.

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder and Its Effect on Breathing

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Oxygen is essential for life. Without it, we wouldn’t survive, and without an adequate amount of it, our bodies don’t function properly. We breathe in oxygen through our nose and mouth. From there, oxygen enters our bloodstream and moves into every cell of our bodies, affecting every organ and system. However, certain factors can inhibit our body’s ability to access ample oxygen, which can, in turn, affect our overall health in some major ways.

One primary culprit of inadequate oxygen is Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder or OMD. Alarmingly, 38% of the population is affected by OMD. Let’s take a few minutes to learn what OMD is, causes and symptoms of OMD, and the importance of nasal breathing for optimal health.

The Basics of Proper Breathing

Breathing is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, and for most people, it occurs naturally, without much thought.

As a result, you may not realize there is a right way and a wrong way to breathe, and improper breathing lends itself to some serious problems.

When the face, mouth, and jaw structure as well as the soft tissue structures and tongue placement are aligned and functioning as intended, proper breathing is effortless, and our bodies get the oxygen they need. However, when one or more components of the orofacial structure are misaligned or not working properly, breathing is compromised and can negatively affect a person’s health.

Habits and Issues That Can Cause Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder

Taking charge of your health and your children’s health can, in many ways, minimize the risk of OMD.

Thumb-sucking is a developmentally normal and healthy reflex that helps babies self-soothe and fall asleep. However, if this reflex becomes a habit and continues past the age of one, or definitely into the toddler years, it can exert too much force against a child’s developing front teeth and cause a high and narrow palate. Over time, it can train a child’s tongue to anchor down and forward instead of resting on the roof of the mouth. Ultimately, it can lead to OMD and affect speech and breathing.

Extended use of pacifiers, bottles, and sippy cups can have the same negative effects on a child’s mouth and facial development, resulting in impaired speech and restricted airflow.

According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 10% of babies are born with ankyloglossia, also known as a tongue tie. If not corrected, ankyloglossia, which affects the position and movement of the tongue, can make it difficult to close the lips properly, speak without a lisp, and breathe properly. In other words, a tongue tie can affect oral posture and lead to OMD. If you think your child has a tongue tie, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert would be happy to assess your child in our office and advise if surgery would be the best course of action to avoid a cascade of future health issues.

Nail-biting, bruxism, and tongue, lip, and cheek-sucking are other habits proven to cause muscle and structural disorders of the face, mouth, and jaw. If you struggle with these bad habits, behavior modification, a custom night splint, or other interventions may help preserve proper alignment and function, minimizing the risk for OMD related issues.

Neurological deficits and developmental delays—causes out of a person’s control—can also lead to OMD.

Read Lizzie’s story here and see how Dr. Elizabeth Eggert detected early signs of OMD and, together with Lizzie’s parents, pursued early treatment to help set her up for a lifetime of health!

Symptoms of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder

Some of the most common symptoms of OMD include:

Tongue thrust
TMD
Headaches
Sleep-disordered breathing/sleep apnea
Fatigue, anxiety, or depression
Lisp
Drooling
Difficulty swallowing
Mouth breathing

In addition, people with OMD often present with a sluggish face and weak, parted lips, a tight chin, and a facial grimace.

Improper Orofacial Structure Can Lead to Mouth Breathing

Let’s take a closer look at mouth breathing.

When the face, mouth, or jaw is misaligned or working improperly, nose breathing can be difficult. Because of our inherent need for oxygen, our bodies will do whatever is necessary to get proper airflow. That’s why both children and adults with OMD often resort to mouth breathing, especially when they’re asleep.

Mouth breathing is inferior to nasal breathing because air that passes through the mouth isn’t filtered like air through the nose. The nasal cavity also humidifies air before it enters the lungs. Additionally, our bodies take in more oxygen when we breathe in through our noses, and our nervous systems shift into a more parasympathetic state, reducing oxidative stress.

Health Implications Beyond the Mouth

Why is mouth breathing a big deal?

Over time, mouth breathing can permanently alter the position of the jaw, tongue, and lips, move the tongue low and forward to facilitate airflow, and lead to malocclusion—an uneven bite.

Poor oxygen and higher oxidative stress can affect children’s cognition, behavior, and academic performance and lead to hyperactivity. Left untreated, it can also lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke in adults.

Clearly, Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder is nothing to take lightly. If you believe you or your child is dealing with OMD, schedule an appointment with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert at Eggert Family Dentistry. They will assess your mouth, face, and jaw and determine if everything is working properly. If they conclude that OMD is present, they will help you create a plan for the best path forward. This could encompass one of many interventions, including a night splint, dental or orthodontic treatment, a custom Myobrace® appliance, or behavior modification. Give our office a call today at 651.482.8412!

Why Choose Eggert Family Dentistry for Your Child’s Dental Care

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

When it comes to your child’s dental health, choosing the right dentist is crucial. At Eggert Family Dentistry in North Oaks, MN, Dr. Jeff Eggert and Dr. Elizabeth Eggert provide comprehensive dental care tailored for the entire family, including children. With our extensive experience and a deep understanding of dental health from infancy through adulthood, we offer a comforting and thorough approach to pediatric dental care in addition to adolescent and adult care. Our practice is equipped with the latest technology and designed to create a welcoming environment for young patients, ensuring that your child feels at ease during every visit.

One of the key advantages of bringing your child to Dr. Jeff and Dr. Elizabeth Eggert is our ability to monitor your child’s growth and development from an early age. Unlike pediatric dentists who might be well versed to take care of extensive childhood decay in a hospital setting, since they focus solely on children, they don’t always have the perspective of what happens in adulthood if some disorders are left untreated. The Eggert’s bring a family-focused perspective that allows us to see the bigger picture of your child’s dental health in the context of the entire family’s oral care and development. By having your child visit the same dentist from a young age, you can ensure that their development is continuously monitored, and any potential issues are identified and addressed promptly.

Parents often face the dilemma of choosing between a general family dentist and a pediatric specialist for their children. While pediatric dentists have specialized training in child-specific dental issues, especially when related to severe decay on primary teeth, Dr. Jeff and Dr. Elizabeth Eggert’s broad expertise means they can provide high-quality care that meets the needs of your entire family. We are happy to start seeing your child before the age of 1 years old, but for children over the age of 8, it is especially beneficial for them to see Dr. Jeff and Dr. Elizabeth because this is a crucial time for growth and it allows for a consistent approach to dental health. We can track developmental milestones and intervene early if necessary. This continuity of care can lead to better long-term dental health outcomes for your child.

Moreover, our practice is designed to make dental visits a positive experience for children. We use child-friendly language and techniques to help young patients understand the importance of dental hygiene without feeling intimidated. The warm and inviting atmosphere at Eggert Family Dentistry, combined with our gentle approach, helps in building a positive relationship with dental care from an early age. Choosing Dr. Jeff and Dr. Elizabeth Eggert at Eggert Family Dentistry ensures that your child receives personalized, attentive care that will set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Call us today at 651-482-8412 to schedule your child’s next dental visit!

How Thumb Sucking and Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders Are Linked

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Thumb sucking is a normal part of child development. It’s a natural reflex for babies, giving them a sense of security. And as they grow, it can become a habit to self-soothe or help them sleep.

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) are also common in children and toddlers. OMD affects the growth and development of mouth and facial structures and can affect a child’s speech and feeding abilities, as well as their developing airway.

So, what is the relationship between thumb sucking and Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

Read on to learn more about OMD and its connection to thumb sucking, how to help your child stop sucking their thumb, and how Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff can help if you think your child may have OMD.

What Is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder is a disorder of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth that interferes with normal growth, development, or function of orofacial structures. It presents as improper tongue, jaw, or lip positioning during eating, swallowing, and speaking.

Symptoms of OMD include:

Malocclusion
Mouth breathing
Tongue thrust
Sleep disordered breathing
Snoring
Airway obstruction
TMD
Headaches
Fatigue, anxiety, or depression
Difficulty articulating sounds like the “s” in “sun,” “sh” in “ship,” or “j” in “jump”
Drooling past age 2
Difficulty closing the lips to swallow

OMD can cause dental problems, changes in facial appearance (such as grimace, tight chin, or weak, parted lips), sleep issues like sleep apnea, and speech difficulties.

Causes of an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder

There is no single determined cause of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder. It is sometimes hereditary, but it can also be caused by:

Thumb sucking or finger sucking past the age of 1 year
Extended use of a pacifier (after 12 months)
Cheek or nail biting
Bruxism
Tongue, lip, or cheek sucking
Tongue-tie
Neurological deficits
Developmental delays

Let’s take a closer look at the first item on this list, thumb sucking and figure out how it’s connected to OMD and how to help your child stop sucking their thumb or finger.

Thumb sucking and Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders: How They Are Connected

Long term thumb sucking can affect the roof of the mouth or alignment of the teeth, and can be a risk factor for increased malocclusion. When a child sucks their thumb or finger for long periods of time, it can exert force against the front teeth as well as the palate (roof of the mouth) and cause changes to the dentition, including:

Posterior crossbites
Anterior excessive overjet
Anterior open bite

It can also affect the direction of jaw growth and lead to the development of a narrow, high arched palate, an open-lipped posture, altered respiration, and abnormal tongue rest and function patterns. People with a high, narrow palate do not develop their nasal passage to its full potential and often have difficulty with nose breathing.

Over time, thumb sucking can anchor the tongue down and forward rather than allowing it to rest on the roof of the mouth. This can, in turn, affect speech development, resulting in improper speech patterns, such as lisping.

How to Help Your Child Stop Thumb sucking

Thumb sucking can be a difficult habit to break.

Children often stop thumb sucking on their own (typically by 6-7 months). It isn’t generally worrisome at that young age. But if your child is still sucking their thumb or finger after the age of 2, it is time to be serious about breaking the habit.

Appliances like thumb guards have limited success and have been associated with negative results like excessive weight loss, pain, poor sensory perception, and development of atypical lingual movement.

Instead, try the following approaches to help your child stop sucking their thumb:

Ignore it, especially if they use thumb sucking to get attention. Sometimes all it takes is for the habit to become less effective for them.
Talk to them about it. If ignoring it doesn’t work, try discussing it with your child. If your child wants to stop and has some agency in how they stop, you’re more likely to be successful.
Use positive reinforcement. Give praise, positive attention, or small rewards when they refrain from thumb sucking. Keep track of their progress in a fun way, such as putting stickers on a calendar.
Set attainable goals. Start with small steps, like instituting a rule of no thumb sucking in certain situations or at certain times of day.
Watch for triggers. Notice when your child begins to suck their thumb: Is it when they’re tired? Stressed? Identify the root issue and offer other ways for them to find comfort, such as asking for a hug or squeezing their favorite stuffed animal.
Be gentle with reminders. Scolding your child for thumb sucking is bound to backfire…especially if they’re doing so to comfort themselves. And pressuring them to stop can delay the quitting process. Simply offer a gentle reminder to stop.
Ask Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff to talk with them. Sometimes having your child talk with one of us about why it’s important to stop sucking their thumb is more effective than a conversation with mom and dad.
Try completing treatment with Dr. Elizabeth using the Myobrace Infant Trainer. This device helps to shape the developing facial structures in a positive manner and gives your child something else to satisfy their oral fixation.

Think Your Child May Have Developed an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?

If you think your child may have developed an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder, come see Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Jeff. We have experience identifying OMD and creating custom treatment plans for our patients.

To talk with us about your concerns and OMD intervention options, call our office at 651.482.8412. We’re here to help your child achieve a confident, healthy smile.