I'm concerned about my child's teeth alignment
Do you know the correct position for your tongue?
I've always had squirrel-like front teeth and was often teased about them, which made me feel self-conscious for a long time. So, after I became an adult, I saved up money and made the big decision to get orthodontic treatment. That's when I was taught the correct position for the tongue.
I was shocked to learn that the correct position is for the entire tongue to be against the roof of the mouth, and that if it's not, it can push against the teeth and cause poor alignment!
I wish I had known the correct tongue position when I was a child 😭
Nasal breathing, not mouth breathing
Apparently, keeping your mouth hanging open and breathing through your mouth is bad for both teeth alignment and growth.
Closing your mouth and breathing through your nose is great for everything: it improves teeth alignment, allows oxygen to circulate better, gets rid of dark circles under your eyes, and gives you a more dignified expression!
So, having struggled with this myself, I definitely want to teach my daughter the importance of tongue position and breathing through her nose with her mouth closed ☺️
Should you only go to the dentist after you get a cavity?
Actually, the percentage of Japanese people who have regular dental checkups is...extremely low compared to other countries!
In Sweden, where prevention is the most advanced in the world, the regular dental checkup rate is 80-90% for adults and100% for children. In contrast, it's only 6% in Japan 👀
In Japan, there is a strong perception that you only go to the dentist when you have a cavity, and there is no habit of going for regular maintenance. However, in other countries, going to the dentist for maintenance is standard!
Actually, dental health is linked to lifestyle diseases like heart disease and diabetes, so you should go to the dentist not just for your teeth, but for your overall physical health as well 🦷
Things you can do for your child's teeth ✨
By the way, we have been going to a nearby dentist once every three months since my child was about two years old.
At first, I felt like the dentist was intimidating and I was nervous, but when I take my child, the dentist and the dental hygienists welcome us with smiles, and we look forward to going together every time. They brush her teeth, apply fluoride, and check for alignment and cavities.
Since we go to the dentist, my child naturally tries harder with brushing, so she still has zero cavities 👍
There are surprisingly many things I don't know about teeth, so it's very reassuring to have a dentist look directly at things like 'Is this alignment okay?' or 'My child's tooth won't come out,' which are hard to figure out online.☺️
