How Does My Tongue Affect the Success of My Braces?
The tongue has an impact on braces. but it’s probably not for the resons most people think. There is so much more to braces than just straight teeth. Orthodontists work with challenging situations when treating patients with braces, but many of them don’t understand the underlying issues that cause challenges when it comes to getting that nice, beautiful smile.
The tongue has an affect on braces because of incorrect oral rest posture, mouth breathing and a tongue thrust swallowing pattern.
Myofunctional therapy helps in the following ways:
Teach proper resting position of the tongue
Eliminate tongue thrust swallowing pattern
Every time a patient with a tongue thrust swallows, the tongue (a very strong muscle) pushes forward. This forward and lateral force repeated over time causes the teeth to move. Many people believe that a tongue thrust is the reason there is a problem, but actually a tongue thrust swallowing pattern is just a symptom of incorrect oral rest posture.
Teach nasal breathing
Every time a person has to part the lips to breathe, the correct oral rest posture of the mouth is altered. This incorrect position of the tongue affects the success of braces because the orthodontist is continuously fighting the consequences of the poor oral rest posture.
Myofunctional Therapy Increases Orthodontic Success
Not all orthodontic patients need myofunctional therapy. However, those with myofunctional concerns can see increased success and less frustration with the orthodontic process if therapy is completed.
Therapy will help by making spaces easier to close and teeth easier to properly straighten. It can lead to shorter orthodontic treatment time because there is less time spent correcting issues associated with tongue thrusting, incorrect oral rest posture, and mouth breathing.
Myofunctional therapy also makes long term orthodontic treatment successful because teeth will not be moved again after they are straightened. Myofunctional therapists work to teach how the tongue can affect the success of your braces, and how to avoid orthodontic relapse.. When patients have to wear braces multiple times because teeth move again after completion of orthodontic treatment, it becomes not only expensive but very frustrating for the patient.
Identifying myofunctional habits that need correction early in the process can prevent the expense and frustration of orthodontic relapse.
When Should You Get Started?
Ideally, the best time to start therapy is before braces are put on.
Children grown and change quickly, and this includes their teeth and facial muscles. By taking advantage of these quick changes, teaching children new habits during that time can help immensely.
For adults, they don’t change as quickly as a child, but it is never too late to begin myofunctional therapy. In fact, sometimes when an adult is getting braces for the second or third time, their orthodontist will tell them that they must change the tongue thrust habit before braces will be successful over the long haul.
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