Dental Characteristics in Down Syndrome

Common Dental Characteristics in Down Syndrome

Common Dental Characteristics in Down Syndrome

As with all of the characteristics, physical as well as developmental, not all of these necessarily occur in a child. Some children may have one or two, and others may have none. Listed here is an overview of the more common "abnormal" dental characteristics in Down Syndrome to watch for. Click here for information on maintaining healthy teeth in kids with Down Syndrome

The Jaw

The maxilla (upper jaw), the bridge of the nose, and the bones of the midface region are smaller than in the general population.

Mouth breathing may occur because of smaller nasal passages, and the tongue may protrude because of a smaller midface region. People with Down syndrome often have a strong gag reflex due to placement of the tongue, as well as anxiety associated with any oral stimulation. One example of this is that, often, children with Down Syndrome will not tolerate certain textures of foods. With some sensory exercises this can be minimized.

The Palate

The Tongue and Lips

Teeth in Down Syndrome

On a personal note...

Sam's first two teeth were his bottom, center teeth. I was so excited when they started coming in right on schedule. Yet another sign that he was progressing along normally! Ha! After his teeth were fully erupted we saw that they were a pretty odd shape, and they were mirror images of each other. Even at his first dental visit no one told us that irregularly shaped teeth were a characteristic of Down Syndrome. So I was stressing over what I did during pregnancy to have caused that. Later, while surfing the internet, I found that this really is one of the dental characteristics in Down Syndrome.

Now Sam has a mouth full of teeth, and while he is missing four teeth, it is not noticeable because of his narrow mouth.

More information on dental care and dental characteristics in Down Syndrome

Dental Care

Tooth Brushing Tips

Sources:

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Oral Care for People with Down Syndrome

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