It's MUCH easier to guide a baby or child's development than to fix the repercussions of those issues in an adult. Often small tweaks in the cranial development of a baby or child will prevent years of distress and dysfunction. Poor craniofacial growth is the catalyst for so many of the problems we see develop in adults, many of which are the topic of most of the pages on this website. By encouraging proper cranial expansion and growth there will be room for the tongue to expand the maxillary palate laterally and forward, which makes room for the airway and the erupting teeth. When the palate is narrowed, often that's when braces or headgear are given, which might straighten the teeth but at the expense of contracting the cranium, causing airway issues, tongue and maxillary arch development issues, occlusal problems, TMJ issues and narrowed sinus cavities and nasal passages. Dentists and orthodontists have NO training in cranial growth and development, and often offer random expanders and dental appliances with no real understanding of whether that's a good fit for your child.

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Aside from avoiding traditional orthodontia that restricts and narrows the maxilla, it's also important that the tongue is free to move within the mouth, as it's the mechanical pressure of the tongue that helps expand the maxilla in children. 

Here is a short list of things you can do to help ensure your child's craniofacial system develops properly:

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1. Have your baby or child assessed for tongue tie and tongue restriction, and cranial-dental growth and development.

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2. Breast feed for as long as is comfortable for yourself and your baby, then try and give your baby foods that are not just mush. The act of chewing will help your baby development his/her craniofacial system. Depending on the age when your baby stops breastfeeding, and what his/her teeth situation is at that time, will dictate how soft the food should be. Use your judgement, or bring them in and we can help.

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3. Have your baby or child assessed early for potential issues in his/her cranial development. These can often be corrected relatively quickly if caught early. Signs that this may be an issue include snoring, mouth-breathing (day or night), inability to focus, always tired, crowding of the teeth (which look differently in children, their teeth aren't meant to be touching, they should have gaps between all their baby-teeth), crooked teeth, speech issues, breastfeeding problems, and more. 

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