TONGUE SPEECH AND TEETH

Tongue, Speech and Teeth

Parents might not realize how important tongue teeth are for their child's speech development. Teeth affect how kids make sounds and say words. Without teeth, it's hard for them to talk and eat properly. Surprisingly, teeth can even affect a child's voice and language skills.

Importance of teeth in speech:

Teeth play a big role in how we make sounds when we talk.

Pediatric Dentists help kids with articulation, like saying sounds like 'R' and 'S'.

Kids usually start to talk around their first birthday, which is also a good time for their first dental checkup. As they learn to talk, they figure out how to make sounds with their mouth, and having teeth helps with this.

Sometimes, even with healthy teeth, kids struggle with certain sounds. In such cases, therapists may teach them to use different sounds to make up for the ones they find hard to pronounce. Some sounds are more affected by teeth development like the 'F' and 'S' sounds.

For the 'F' sound: We usually use our top teeth on our bottom lip to make this sound. If those teeth aren't there, it can be challenging.

For the 'S' sound: This sound is also affected by teeth development. If the front teeth are missing, the tongue might stick out, causing what's called a frontal lisp. In therapy, children are taught new ways to make these sounds correctly.

In case of forwardly placed tooth, ‘Ma’ sound which initiated by pursing of lips is seem to be difficult so the correction of malocclusion is required.

Before having all their baby teeth, molars help break down food. The tongue moves food around until it's chewed, then helps form a bolus for swallowing.

Importance of tongue and speech:

The tongue is a muscular organ that helps in speech, chewing, and swallowing. Development of initiates in four weeks of a child’s life in the womb.

As an infant, the child needs a tongue for latching and breastfeeding. Gradually as the child grows, when the child has been introduced to solid foods the pattern of swallowing alters.

If your child has tongue tie issues, the dentist works together to assess tongue movement and structure. Tongue ties can affect feeding, especially breastfeeding. A restricted tongue can make it hard for babies to latch onto the breast. As children grow, limited tongue movement due to tongue tie can impact speech. Therapists may consult with dentists to assess its effects.

Similarly, the posture of the tongue influences the breathing pattern, as in case of breathing obstruction the fall back of the tongue can be the main cause of it.

Get your consultation with the best pediatric dentists at KIDZ N TEENZ DENTAL CLINIC.