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Gymnastics for teeth

A beautiful smile is formed long before a person begins to smile, consciously displaying the beauty of their teeth. To have a flawless smile, it's essential to ensure the proper development of the dental system long before the permanent teeth begin to erupt. Naturally, this care is part of a parent's commitment to their child's current and future health. Pediatric dentistry recommends personalized dental care for young children to ensure their developing dental system develops properly.

The science that studies pathological developments of the dental system classifies such pathologies as factors that provoke dental deformities. In addition to a genetic predisposition to the development of pathological changes in the formation of the jaws and dental arches, there are also acquired defects in the normal configuration of the dental system, for example, those resulting from bad habits in childhood.

It is known that the facial muscles (for example, the orbicularis oris muscle) and the muscles responsible for movements in the temporomandibular joint, that is, moving the lower jaw (muscles that lift the lower jaw; muscles that move the jaw to the right and left; muscles that move the lower jaw forward; as well as muscle groups that allow the jaw to make circular movements and lower the lower jaw down) take an active part in the formation of the dental system.

There are specially developed exercises for teeth (or teeth myogymnastics) that help prevent pathological processes in the formation of the jaws and teeth at the early stages of dental development. exercises for teeth are considered most effective when used in children aged four to seven years, when the child is already able to imitate the exercises suggested by their parents, precisely copying the necessary movements of the lips, tongue, and lower jaw. Such an early age is chosen for myogymnastics classes because it is at this age that one can already assess the deformations that can occur during jaw growth and dental formation.

Gymnastics for teeth are performed in two modes:

static muscle tension - a continuous state of tension of certain muscle groups over a period of time;
dynamic muscle tension, in which muscle tension alternates with relaxation.

To prevent the development of a deep bite, in which the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth so much that the incisal edge of the lower teeth can rest against the gingival margin of the tooth or even the gingival margin surrounding the teeth on the oral side, orthodontics recommends exercises that involve maximal forward movement of the lower jaw, either voluntarily or with the lower front teeth overlapping the upper front teeth. The exercises are repeated in three sessions (morning, lunch, and evening), 10-15 times per session.

It's not uncommon for an open bite to develop, where the upper and lower front teeth are open when the mouth is closed (when the jaws are closed). If this type of malocclusion is suspected, exercises that strengthen the lower jaw muscles are recommended. For example, by clenching and unclenching the masticatory muscles, the upper and lower jaws are firmly closed with static tension, and then opened with a load on the lower jaw (using fingers to resist the lower jaw by simultaneously pressing on the lower back teeth on both sides). Then, the same load is applied to the masticatory muscles by attempting to lift the lower jaw and close the mouth, resisting this jaw lift.

All groups of gymnastics exercises for teeth are performed only after the orthodontist has identified a specific type of anomaly in the formation of the dentoalveolar system in the child and recommended the prevention of further development of the deformation with the help of myogymnastics.