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Could Your Child’s Jaw Be Affecting Their Grades?


Balance Epigenetic Orthodontics - December 29, 2020 - 0 comments

Without question, this school year has been like none before it. Learning for students across the country has migrated into the same rooms they have their dinner, go to sleep, and play. With many daily routines changing so drastically this past year, sleep patterns and getting ready for bed routines have changed a lot as well. While change is normal and generally a pretty common part of life, changes in sleep routines can have an incredible impact on childhood learning and development overall.

All these changes can be further exacerbated if your child experiences underdevelopment of their jaw, which most children do (about 70-80%). An underdeveloped jaw can translate into chronic pain, which can prevent a good night’s sleep, or even result in a partially blocked airway. Sleep deprivation, as outlined here, has the potential to negatively affect both attention span and cognitive development.

Signs Your Child May Have Trouble Focusing

  • Distracted easily
  • Frequent daydreaming
  • Forgetful
  • Regularly makes careless mistakes
  • Squirms or fidgets

The Relationship to Jaw Growth

Research suggests there may be an important correlation between concentration and jaw development. Ineffectual jaw development leads to an imbalanced jaw positioning. This imbalance commonly results in a collection of symptoms referred to as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD).

  • Your child’s trouble focusing may be the result of chronic tooth or jaw pain that they are having trouble expressing to you. Pain can not only be unpleasant but also quite distracting for kids at such a young age.
  • Jaw development can have long-lasting effects on a variety of adjacent systems and processes. For example, if your child’s jaw doesn’t meet its growth potential, this could lead to a partially blocked airway and interrupt their sleep. The position of the jaw many times establishes how much room exists in the mouth. If there is insufficient space for all of a patient’s teeth and tongue, this could lead to a breathing obstruction, especially during sleep when the tongue rests further back in the mouth.
  • Sleep deprivation can make concentrating very challenging. Toothaches and headaches can also cause children to be more forgetful, prone to daydreaming, or careless about their schoolwork.

How Can Balance Epigenetic Orthodontics Help Your Child?

Dr. Buck has a tremendous amount of experience treating sleep disorders and jaw epigenetics for groups of all ages. If your child is experiencing difficulty concentrating or sleeping, it may be the result of undiagnosed TMD, which Dr. Buck is especially well equipped to treat. If you would like to learn more about your child’s options for treatment, call Dr. Buck today at (425) 409-2180 to schedule an appointment.