Did you know that our jaws are responsible for more than just eating, speaking, swallowing, or expressing emotions? Yes, we tend to take them for granted, which is why we fail to realize that jaw misalignment can indeed trigger various problems.
It can especially affect a child’s sleeping patterns, which are reflected in their concentration and performance in school. The good news however is that jaw misalignment is a problem that can be resolved.
To help you identify if your child is suffering from misaligned jaws, here are five unknown symptoms signaling possible jaw misalignment in the first place.
5 signs of possible jaw misalignment
1. Poor swallowing and oral posture
A misaligned bite can affect the way the facial muscles work, leading to possible improper swallowing. This constant pressure on the teeth while swallowing can be harmful, leading to problems like an open bite, mouth breathing, and protrusion.
2. Gastrointestinal symptoms
Jaw misalignment can cause gastrointestinal issues in two ways. One is improper swallowing wherein your child swallows more air, leading to bloating, and loss of appetite, and stomach aches.
The second way is the way your child chews because of an improper bite. This can lead to poor digestion and consequent stomach aches with poor nutrition.
3. Dental wear and injuries
Your child’s misaligned bite can lead to the chipping, cracking, or breaking of teeth enamel. It’s because a misaligned jaw can impact your child’s chewing wherein some teeth wear quicker than others. It eventually leads to discomfort and unnecessary procedures and emergencies your child has to endure.
Resolving the malocclusion helps even out the way your teeth come together. It also lets their jaws relax comfortably, reducing the chances of your child clenching or grinding teeth and eventual dental injuries or wear and tear.
4. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Jaw misalignment can also prove to be stressful on your child’s jaw, leading to TMJ symptoms like:
• Jaw pain and stiffness while eating
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Sore muscles
They make it difficult for your child to fall or stay asleep, thus affecting your child’s sleep quality and amount.
5. Sleep apnea
As the jaws and airways are connected, ideally positioned jaws help your child breathe while reducing joint and muscle strain. However, jaw misalignment can narrow the airway leading to obstructive sleep apnea.
Resolving malocclusion is often a permanent solution that opens the airway, stops snoring, and eliminates obstructive sleep apnea. With sleep apnea causing various symptoms like fatigue, depression, and heart disease, reducing them will make your child feel better.
Of course, it’s not that all jaw misalignment will lead to these problems in all children. However, there is always a possibility, which is why you need to know about them and keep a look out for the symptoms.
And if your child does suffer from a misaligned bite, then it can significantly affect their life. Early diagnosis and orthodontic treatment can help resolve it.
Your child will then be able to sleep more soundly at night, getting up feeling fresh, focused, and less cranky through the day!