Oral Posture Assessment in Lakewood
Oral Posture Assessment
Where your tongue rests when you're not eating or speaking might seem insignificant, but this simple position affects your breathing, facial development, and overall health more than you'd imagine. At our Lakewood dental clinic, we provide comprehensive oral posture assessments to evaluate how your tongue position, lip seal, and jaw alignment work together as a system. Poor oral posture – like a low-resting tongue or open mouth position – can lead to crooked teeth, TMJ pain, sleep apnea, and even changes in facial structure over time. Through careful evaluation and targeted correction, we help patients of all ages develop proper oral posture that supports healthy breathing, optimal facial development, and improved quality of life.
The Hidden Impact of Tongue Position
During an oral posture assessment, we examine where your tongue naturally rests, how your lips come together, and whether you breathe through your nose or mouth. The ideal tongue position is gently pressed against the roof of your mouth, with the tip just behind your front teeth – not touching them. This position, often called the "tongue spot," creates proper oral pressure that guides facial growth in children and maintains airway openness in adults. We evaluate muscle tone, swallowing patterns, and habitual mouth position both at rest and during function. Many patients discover they've been unconsciously keeping their tongue low or thrust forward, creating a domino effect of problems including narrow dental arches, forward head posture, and restricted airways. Our assessment uses both visual examination and functional tests to create a complete picture of your oral posture habits.
Transforming Health Through Proper Positioning
What sets our oral posture assessment apart is our focus on correction, not just identification. Poor oral posture rarely exists in isolation – it's usually connected to breathing issues, muscle dysfunction, or structural problems that need addressing. After assessment, we develop personalized strategies to retrain proper tongue position and establish nasal breathing patterns. This might include myofunctional therapy exercises, breathing retraining, or orthodontic intervention to create adequate space for proper tongue position. Children who correct oral posture early often avoid extensive orthodontic treatment later, while adults experience improvements in sleep quality, reduced jaw pain, and better breathing. We also address contributing factors like tongue ties, enlarged tonsils, or chronic allergies that make proper oral posture difficult to maintain.
According to research published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, proper oral posture plays a critical role in craniofacial development and can significantly impact breathing patterns, swallowing function, and even postural stability throughout the body.
Discover Your Optimal Oral Posture
Ready to learn how proper oral posture can improve your health? Our comprehensive assessment in Lakewood identifies issues and provides practical solutions for lasting change. Contact us today to schedule your oral posture evaluation.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is proper oral posture and why does it matter?
Proper oral posture means your tongue rests gently against your palate, lips are closed without strain, teeth are slightly apart, and you breathe through your nose. This position maintains airway openness, guides proper facial development, and prevents issues like TMJ disorders, sleep apnea, and orthodontic problems.
How can I tell if I have poor oral posture?
Signs include mouth breathing, dry lips, tongue thrust when swallowing, teeth marks on your tongue edges, narrow palate, crowded teeth, or forward head posture. You might also experience TMJ pain, snoring, or chronic fatigue. Many people are unaware of their tongue position until formally assessed.
Can adults benefit from oral posture correction?
Absolutely. While children's faces are still developing, adults can significantly improve breathing, reduce TMJ pain, decrease snoring, and prevent further dental issues through oral posture correction. Many adults report better sleep, improved appearance, and reduced neck tension after establishing proper oral posture habits.
How long does it take to change oral posture habits?
Establishing new oral posture habits typically takes 3-6 months of conscious practice. Initial awareness might develop within weeks, but creating automatic, unconscious patterns requires consistent effort. Children often adapt faster than adults. Success depends on addressing any underlying structural or functional issues.
What happens during an oral posture assessment?
We evaluate resting tongue position, lip seal, breathing patterns, and swallowing function. The assessment includes examining palate shape, dental arch width, and signs of dysfunction like wear patterns or muscle tension. We may take photos or use imaging to document findings and track progress.
Is oral posture related to facial appearance?
Yes, oral posture significantly influences facial development and appearance. Proper tongue position supports cheekbone development, jaw alignment, and facial symmetry. Poor oral posture can lead to elongated faces, receded chins, and narrow smiles. Early correction in children can guide attractive facial development.
We’re Not Just Tooth Doctors.
We look at your whole health.
Welcome to Balanced Dental Studio, located in Lakewood, Colorado. Our dental practice embraces a holistic approach, prioritizing the overall health of our patients. As functional dentists, we go beyond the surface and delve into the root causes of dental issues, ensuring durable solutions.
While maintaining good oral hygiene through practices like brushing, flossing, mouthwash, and regular cleanings is crucial, they may not always address the underlying reasons for problems such as tooth decay, misaligned teeth, and bad breath. These issues can often be traced back to airway obstructions, overcrowding in the mouth, and narrow dental arches resulting from habits like mouth breathing and sleep-disordered breathing.
By focusing on functional dentistry, we aim to identify and resolve the core sources of dental problems, thereby preventing future issues and enhancing your overall quality of life. Our mission is to help you and your loved ones regain the confidence to smile, breathe effortlessly, and enjoy improved well-being. We offer comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages, ranging from preventive cleanings to advanced procedures.
Schedule An
Appointment
Are you ready to smile more, breathe freely, and live better?
We are, too! Give us a call or complete the form to schedule an appointment! We'd love to sit down and discuss how you can achieve better oral health and a beautiful, healthy smile!
Please call 303.989.3192 or use the form to request to schedule an appointment. The Balanced Dental Studio Team will then call you to confirm a date and time.
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