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Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs): Is Your Child at Risk? Essential Prevention Tips for Parents of Young Children

Writer's picture: braydenweberbraydenweber

Updated: Oct 20, 2024


Early childhood habits can significantly impact your child’s oral and facial development, potentially leading to orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). By understanding and implementing preventive measures, you can support healthy development in your child.


1. Transitioning from Bottle to Cup It's essential to transition your child from a bottle to a regular cup by their first birthday. While sippy cups may aid in this transition, prolonged use beyond a few weeks is discouraged. Drinking from an open cup helps strengthen the muscles used for speech and supports the shift from infant swallowing patterns (suckle-swallow) to a mature swallow.


2. Pacifier Use: When and How to Limit It Pacifiers should only be used during naps or nighttime, with the goal of phasing them out between ages one and two. The same applies to blankets or toys your child sucks on. Prolonged use of pacifiers or sucking on objects can delay proper oral development. If your child falls asleep with a pacifier, gently remove it and place their lips together to encourage nasal breathing and correct lip resting posture.


3. Addressing Mouth Breathing If you notice your child frequently breathes through their mouth or keeps it open, consult a physician. Mouth breathing can affect the development of the face and palate and may signal underlying issues like allergies or airway obstructions. Early intervention is crucial for preventing long-term effects on facial structure.


4. Encouraging Chewing with Age-Appropriate Foods Provide your child with foods that require increased chewing to develop strong muscles of mastication (chewing). Foods like apples, carrots, hard-crust bread, bagels, celery, and granola bars encourage proper chewing, which is not only important for eating but also plays a role in speech articulation and forward dental development.


5. Monitor Oral Habits Be mindful of habits like thumb sucking, nail-biting, and chewing on hair. While these may seem harmless, frequent oral habits can negatively affect jaw development and weaken the orofacial muscles. Encourage your child to develop healthy oral habits before they lose their baby teeth to ensure optimal facial and dental growth.


6. Seek Professional Guidance If you have concerns about your child's dental habits or development, contact us to discuss whether Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) might be beneficial. Our experienced team can provide guidance and, if necessary, schedule a consultation to evaluate your child's needs.


Conclusion: Start Early for Better Results Taking proactive steps to address oral habits and encourage healthy development can help prevent OMDs and other dental issues. Early intervention and consultation with dental professionals are key to ensuring your child’s optimal growth and development.

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