Atypical swallowing is an oral dysfunction characterized by a incorrect position of the tongue when swallowing, affecting the normal development of teething, speech, health and even aesthetics.
This problem, which occurs during childhood and if not corrected will last until adulthood, can be due to multiple factors but certain children's habits such as sucking your finger, using a pacifier or bottle for a long time, or biting your nails could contribute to its appearance. We tell you what it is and how to treat atypical swallowing.
How does atypical swallowing affect?
The way in which the baby swallows the food varies as it grows and incorporates the solids in its diet, at which time the swallowing becomes the same as that of adults: putting the tongue on the palate when swallowing.
But if the language is not positioned correctly but we position it behind the front teeth exerting pressure when swallowing, we will be talking about atypical swallowing, an oral disorder that can affect the oral health of children causing, among others, the following problems:
- Symmetrical anterior open bite and protrusion of the anterior superior teeth, that is, the upper teeth protrude with respect to the lower teeth, what is commonly known as "rabbit teeth".
A correct dental occlusion is one in which the teeth of the upper jaw contact in a balanced way with the lower teeth, allowing a correct masticatory, articular, respiratory and foraging function. In cases of atypical swallowing, these functions may be altered, in addition to affecting the aesthetics of the face.
Separation or gap between teeth (known as "diastema"), something that is usually common in the first years of life, but that should disappear as the child acquires his final dentition.
Lip Incompetence, which is a loss of tonicity of the upper lip which causes sagging and prevents normal sealing of the lips (children who are always with the mouth open)
Bad pronunciation of certain phonemes as / d /, / t /, / l /, / n /, / r /
What are the causes of atypical swallowing?
There are several factors that can intervene in atypical swallowing, including certain anatomical causes such as lingual frenulum, hereditary factors or facial malformations, among others.
However, experts point out that bad oral habits during childhood are usually the main reason, and among them I would highlight the prolonged use of the bottle and the pacifier.And it has been seen that used correctly, the pacifier has many benefits for babies, but prolonged use beyond 24 months could have negative consequences on teeth and jaw. Something similar occurs with the bottle, whose prolonged suction in time could also lead to these types of problems.
Other bad habits that could contribute to the appearance of atypical swallowing would be:
Suck objects such as pens or pencils, or bite your cheeks or lips
Sucking your finger is a bad childhood habit that if you continue persistently beyond five or six years, it could cause major oral health problems.
To bite nails repetitively and constantly It can cause alterations in the bite or teeth.
Crushed feed beyond a certain age, since by not favoring chewing, the perioral musculature does not develop correctly and problems of various kinds may appear.
Breathing instead of nasal (either throughout the day or only at night), which would cause effects on the tongue, jaw, palate, teeth and throat, as well as other possible complications.
How to prevent and treat atypical swallowing?
Based on the risk factors we have just seen, experts insist that the best way to avoid both this and other childhood oral disorders is stimulating breastfeeding, since chest suction helps the correct development of the child's jaw.
If you choose the bottle it is important to choose the teat appropriate to the child's age and remove it before two years, as well as the pacifier. The incorporation of solids into the diet and try to avoid harmful oral habits, would be other important prevention measures.
But in addition, it is essential routinely take our child to the pediatric dentist, in order to avoid, or treat in time, possible pathologies.
The Spanish Society of Pediatric Dentistry (SEOP) recommends that The first visit to the dentist takes place around the first year of life, when the first teeth start to erupt. From that moment, the revisions should be done periodically.
If atypical swallowing is diagnosed, experts emphasize the importance of combining orthodontic treatment with speech therapy, to ensure that problems do not reappear.
He dentist will solve anatomical problems Atypical swallowing derivatives, through the use of orthodontics, while the speech therapist will seek to normalize altered oral functions such as swallowing or breathing.
Remember that atypical swallowing is a bad habit that must be corrected at the root, hence the importance of both professionals working together.
