Straightening Teeth Naturally in Children

 Can You Straighten Your Teeth Naturally at Home?

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Now, regarding the question of whether or not you can straighten your teeth naturally at home—that’s a bit of a loaded question. First of all, we need to separate this discussion between two groups: people who are still growing (children) and those who are not (adults).

Straightening Teeth Naturally in Children

In children, I have personally seen improvements in my own practice by addressing certain habits. These include:

Mouth breathing

Lip-apart posture (where the lips remain apart)

Tongue ties (which can prevent the tongue from resting properly against the roof of the mouth)

Improper swallowing habits (such as pushing the lips together while swallowing)

These negative habits can cause teeth crowding and hinder proper jaw development. However, by correcting them, we can guide the teeth to align more naturally as the child grows. There are also products and services, like Myobrace, which help in guiding teeth alignment by addressing these habits. I have witnessed great results in my patients over the years through this method.

What About Adults?

For adults, things are different. The bones have hardened, and the face is no longer growing. Exercises at home do not have the same significant impact as they do in children. The effects, if any, are very subtle.

However, I do find that these exercises can help with retention after orthodontic treatment. For example, if someone has had braces or Invisalign but had a strong mouth-breathing habit, their teeth may start shifting back due to the muscle forces in their mouth. This is why people who don't wear retainers after treatment often experience teeth shifting.

By working on mouth-breathing habits, in theory, teeth can become more naturally stable. While I still recommend retainers, improving these habits can help in maintaining alignment.

How Do Teeth Move?

Teeth respond to continuous forces. That’s why braces and Invisalign work—they apply a constant, gentle force on the teeth to move them. Simply doing an exercise for five minutes will not shift teeth. However, breaking harmful habits can prevent worsening alignment.

For instance, if your lips tend to push inward, your teeth are likely to become more jumbled and angled backward. If you work on correcting that habit, you may notice some gradual improvement, but for adults, the change will be very slow and very subtle—if any at all.

Types of Exercises That Can Help

There are different exercises designed to improve oral habits. Some common categories include:

1. Mouth-breathing correction – Encouraging nasal breathing, keeping lips together, and ensuring the tongue rests against the roof of the mouth.

2. Tongue posture exercises – Training the tongue to stay in the correct position.

3. Swallowing exercises – Helping deactivate the muscles around the lips to prevent excessive pressure on the teeth during swallowing.

Programs like Myobrace incorporate a series of exercises that start with breathing techniques, progress to tongue posture training, and then work on swallowing patterns. For children, these exercises can aid proper facial growth and development, leading to better teeth alignment over time.

The Best Approach to Straightening Teeth

While these exercises are important for long-term stability, most orthodontic problems still require braces or Invisalign to achieve the best results. Aligning the teeth properly first and then using retainers, along with exercises to correct habits like mouth breathing and improper swallowing, provides a more stable and healthier outcome.

Conclusion

Exercises can play a critical role in maintaining dental stability and preventing orthodontic relapse. However, they work best as a supplement to traditional orthodontic treatments rather than as a standalone method for straightening teeth. By combining professional treatment with habit correction, we can achieve a healthier and more stable smile in the long run.