Tips and Exercises on Improving Incorrect Swallowing by Prof John Mew

Summary

This video discusses the common causes of irregular teeth, particularly focusing on the habit of tongue sucking during swallowing, which can displace teeth. The problem is further complicated by jaw dropping, leading to facial changes and undersized jaws. The speaker emphasizes the difficulty in training people, especially children, to correct this behavior. While traditional exercises can help, the speaker finds a 'Hoffmann wire' appliance to be more effective. This appliance serves as a constant reminder of proper swallowing technique by causing discomfort if the tongue is used incorrectly, reinforcing the right behavior more effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 Irregular teeth are often caused by improper tongue posture when swallowing, where the tongue sucks on the teeth instead of pressing against the palate.
• 😀 This improper tongue posture can lead to the displacement of teeth, contributing to dental misalignment.
• 😀 In industrialized civilizations, such dental irregularities are commonly observed due to these habits.
• 😀 A contributing factor is the tendency to drop the jaw, which moves the tongue away from the palate, worsening the issue.
• 😀 Dropping the jaw and leaving the mouth open results in a downward growth of the face, rather than forward, leading to undersized jaws.
• 😀 The downward facial growth caused by improper tongue posture also negatively affects facial aesthetics, often resulting in longer faces that are considered less attractive than square ones.
• 😀 Training individuals, especially children, to correct tongue posture during swallowing is difficult, particularly if they've been doing it incorrectly for years.
• 😀 Standard methods to correct swallowing involve exercises to teach children where their tongue should be, but these can be time-consuming and less effective.
• 😀 An alternative and more effective method involves using an orthodontic device called a 'Hoffmann wire', which helps train correct swallowing by causing discomfort if the tongue is placed incorrectly.
• 😀 The Hoffmann wire appliance provides a constant reminder to maintain the correct tongue posture, reinforcing the habit day and night, and often eliminating the need for additional exercises.

Q & A

What is the primary cause of irregular teeth, according to the script?

The primary cause of irregular teeth is sucking on the teeth when swallowing, rather than sucking the tongue up against the palate. This improper tongue positioning leads to displacement of the teeth.

How does improper tongue posture affect the overall facial structure?

Improper tongue posture, especially when the jaw drops and the mouth stays open, leads to the face moving downward instead of forward. This results in undersized jaws and negatively affects facial appearance.

Why are long faces considered less attractive than square faces?

Long faces are considered less attractive because they result from facial growth that moves downward, as opposed to square faces that grow forward, which are generally seen as more attractive.

What is the challenge in training someone to keep their tongue in the correct position?

Training someone to keep their tongue in the correct position is difficult, especially if they've been swallowing incorrectly for many years. It requires consistent practice and exercises to correct the behavior.

What is the traditional method used to train proper swallowing and tongue positioning?

The traditional method involves providing exercises that teach the child where their tongue should be when swallowing, with the goal of gradually forming correct habits through repetition.

What alternative method is mentioned in the script for correcting swallowing posture?

The script mentions using an autothropic appliance called a 'Hoffmann wire', which is fitted in the lower jaw and helps reinforce proper tongue positioning by causing discomfort when used incorrectly.

How does the 'Hoffmann wire' appliance work to encourage correct swallowing?

The 'Hoffmann wire' has wires extending towards the cheeks, and if the tongue is used incorrectly during swallowing, it causes sores on the cheeks. If the child swallows correctly with the tongue in the palate, they do not experience any discomfort.

What advantage does the 'Hoffmann wire' appliance have over traditional exercises?

The 'Hoffmann wire' appliance provides a constant reminder of the correct swallowing method throughout the day and night, which can be more effective than traditional exercises alone.

What is the result of a person leaving their tongue away from the palate for years?

Leaving the tongue away from the palate for an extended period complicates the process of retraining correct swallowing habits and can contribute to issues like irregular teeth and an altered facial structure.

How does the misuse of the tongue during swallowing affect the teeth?

Misusing the tongue during swallowing by sucking on the teeth can displace them, which leads to irregular teeth. This pattern is commonly seen in industrialized civilizations.