Can Orthodontics Improve a Child’s Speech?

It’s not uncommon for children to have some form of speech defect or impediment from when they begin babbling in infancy through the toddler years. Most children reach developmental milestones and outgrow these issues, while there is a percentage who continue to display concerning speech delays. The concept of speech is a complex process where many issues can come into play. Speech can be impacted by a multitude of body and development functions such as hearing issues, nerve and muscle control, the brain’s processing ability, and birth defects, not to mention the tongue, lips, vocal cords, nasal cavity, and the placement of teeth and jaw bones.

20% Of People Suffer From This

In an ideal world, your teeth should fit easily together with no crowding, spacing, or overlaps. In reality, about 15 to 20% of the American population suffers from malocclusion, or a misaligned bite. A misaligned bite can develop from various conditions or habits, including a cleft lip or palate, thumb sucking, abnormally shaped teeth, mouth breathing, and tumors in the jaw. The good news, however, is that there are options to correct this common dental issue. Read on to find out more.