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Dr Emily Ng, 160 Yishun Street 11, #01/204, Singapore (2026)

15/04/2026

Having no gaps between baby teeth could be a clue to a bigger issue.

Gaps in baby teeth are actually a good sign.
More space between the baby teeth = the higher the chance of the larger adult front teeth fitting in straight.
No space between baby teeth = likely smaller jaw = high chance of crowded adult teeth.
This goes beyond teeth. Your child may have obstructive sleep apneas (OSA) if they have other symptoms such as:
- restless sleep
- snoring or grinding
- bedwetting
_ mouth breathing
- poor attention span
- behaviour issues
With OSA, a child’s breathing may stop during sleep and this awakens the brain slightly. The quality of sleep is poorer leading to a hyper/tired child and possible poor growth.
Common causes are enlarged adenoids or tonsils and obesity. Children with OSA also tend to have narrower upper jaws and smaller lower jaws.
Consider asking your paediatrician/ENT doctor about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for further assessment.
If your child has crowded baby teeth, book a personalised assessment with to look beyond the smile and support healthy development.While the child is younger, the upper jaw can be expanded.

Disclaimer: This content is for education only and not medical advice. Treatment options and outcomes vary, and decisions should always be made after a personalised consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

09/04/2026

Starting Braces or Invisalign while growth is still on your side has different outcomes:
At 8, we can expand the upper jaw, guide eruption of adult teeth and set in place good habits to provide a better environment for more ideal growth of the face & airway. This sets the foundation.
At 13, we may be able to take advantage of the remaining growth potential.

At 16, there is minimal facial growth left. If the wisdom teeth are not developed, an option would be to move teeth backwards with Invisalign and elastics. (Or plan for premolar extractions or jaw surgery).

By 23, growth has stopped. Upper wisdom teeth may need removal before attempting to move the teeth backwards with Invisalign and elastics.
See an orthodontist if you’re not sure when’s the best age to start.
Disclaimer: This content is for education only and not medical advice. Treatment options and outcomes vary, and decisions should always be made after a personalised consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

04/04/2026

Choosing the right orthodontist for kids is not about picking the closest clinic.

Trust is key when it’s your child.

Rapport helps with cooperation.

These are the key ingredients for ongoing partnership that orthodontic treatment is.

Look for a child focused orthodontist who understands growth and explains how it affects your child’s bite and overall development.

Articles on websites or educational content shows communication style and treatment philosophy.

Beyond that, hear from others who have gone through treatment. Ask your trusted friends for their recommendations or check for reviews. .
The consultation is a great barometer. Ask what options you have now, and if treatment is not done now, what the alternatives are. You should always have choices.

If you would like personalised advice, book a consultation with

Disclaimer: This content is for education only and not medical advice. Treatment options and outcomes vary, and decisions should always be made after a personalised consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

02/04/2026

Did you know you’re supposed to go UNDER the gums when flossing?

Don’t just snap the floss between the teeth - you’re cutting the food and leaving it there.

You’ll need to hold the floss tight against each tooth surface, use the floss to, scrap the tooth surfaces that are above and below the gums. Then do it for the tooth that’s next door too.

When flossing with braces, you’ll need to thread the floss under the orthodontic wire before you can clean between the teeth and under the gums.

Floss threader or Oral Superfloss can help.

Water floss can help with reducing the food and plaque around the braces and on teeth. But it doesnt clean under the gums as well as floss.

Oh, and bleeding gums = inflammation = there’s lots of food and bacteria there = floss & brush more.

It should resolve in 2 weeks. If it doesn’t, you may need to go to the dentist for a professional clean to remove fossilised food (calculus/tartar) that may have formed.

Disclaimer: This content is for education only and not medical advice. Treatment options and outcomes vary, and decisions should always be made after a personalised consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

31/03/2026

The early weeks were one of the toughest periods in my life. I lived from feed to feed, wake time to wake time and it was a blur.

Breastfeeding is a personal choice. Some may not be able to direct latch due to pain, supply, or preferences of the baby or parent. Support from International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) could be helpful.

Others may prefer to bottle feed to know the exact amount of milk consumed.

I’m sharing this not with judgment but for education: Breastfeeding directly is a workout for the baby. The lips, tongue and swallow reflexes are strengthened and coordinated with each swallow.

If you’re barely surviving, I see you. You’re doing your best and that’s enough.

Fed is best and mum getting the right support and rest is equally important.

Other things that could help with healthy jaw developement:

No pillows or soft toys in the cot before age 1 to reduce risk of suffocation and reduce dust. Washing bedsheets at 60 degrees help reduce dustmites.

Baby led weaning under supervision to allow baby to explore textures and build strength when gumming food. (I started with purees for my older child and did BLW for my 2nd)

Brushing their teeth with toothpaste (see reel for amount to use)

Stop milk bottles by age 1. Skipping sippy cups with hard spouts.

Seeing a dentist by age 1.

Click your tongue at your baby. They will usually mirror and copy you. That trains tongue suction to roof of mouth

Encourage them to breathe through their nose

Disclaimer: This content is for education only and not medical advice. Treatment options and outcomes vary, and decisions should always be made after a personalised consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

06/03/2026

If your child cannot close their lips because their teeth are sticking out, read this.

Teeth that stick out:
⚡more likely to get damaged during falls or accidents
🪞could affect a child's self-image during their developmental years.
Over time, the teeth usually get worse because the lower lip (which is trapped under the upper teeth) keeps applying pressure which:
⤴️pushes the upper teeth upwards & outwards more
⬅️pushes the lower teeth backwards, worsening crowding.
When the upper front teeth are sticking out,
⬆️ the lower front teeth keep growing upwards and may end up biting at the gums behind the upper teeth.
⚡This can be painful, cause gum problems or make it a less ideal environment for the lower jaw to grow forward
Early orthodontic treatment can help remove these barriers so normal jaw development can happen instead of waiting until growth slows in the late teens.

Follow for next week’s video: Goals for early treatments (BTS Ep. 5)
If your child is in primary school and struggles to close their lips comfortably, book a personalised consultation with .
Disclaimer: This content is for education only and not medical advice. Treatment options and outcomes vary, and decisions should always be made after a personalised consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

03/03/2026

You don’t have to wait for all adult teeth before starting orthodontic treatment.

Most children get their adult front teeth at 7 to 8 years old and you can start to see if they are crowded, sticking out or in underbite (lower teeth in front of upper teeth).

The adult canine is big and crowding usually worsens when it emerges at age 9-11.

Sometimes it gets stuck (‘impacted”) within the bone if there is insufficient space. It could damage the roots of other teeth and may need surgery.

It’s easier to bring a stuck tooth into the mouth at the right time, rather than years later.

That’s why orthodontic evaluation at age 7 is recommended to detect concerns early.

Oh, and the back adult premolars you’re waiting for? It’s smaller than the baby molars. Usually, the adult molars move forward, using up the space. During early treatment, we can take advantage of the size difference to help with alignment for the front teeth.

Not all kids need early orthodontic treatment.

In the right patients, timely treatment allows us to create space before crowding worsens, guide jaw growth, and improve function such as lip closure rather than reacting to bigger problems later when growth has completed.

If you are unsure whether your child needs treatment, book a personalised consultation

Disclaimer: This content is for education only and not medical advice. Treatment options and outcomes vary, and decisions should always be made after a personalised consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

30/01/2026

For years, I thought I was good at my job and I loved it.

As an orthodontic specialist, I helped improve smiles and confidence.

Becoming a parent changed my perspective.
Watching my son struggle with mouth breathing, poor sleep, and an open bite showed me how much we miss when we only focus on teeth.

Treating his asthma, allergies, and undergoing ENT surgery changed everything.

He slept better, ate better, and felt better.

That experience pushed me to learn more about how growth, breathing, sleep, and function are connected.

Early orthodontic care is not about starting sooner. It is about identifying growth issues early and building a strong foundation while a child is still growing.

Not every child needs early treatment.
But for those who do, it can make a real difference.

How has being a parent changed the way you see things?

Disclaimer: This content is for education only and not medical advice. Treatment decisions should be made after a personalised consultation.

20/01/2026

Your teeth are not something you should straighten on autopilot.

Behind every healthy smile is careful planning, controlled tooth movement and ongoing professional monitoring.

When aligner treatment lacks supervision, small issues can go unnoticed and the consequences often show up later in your gums, bite and long term stability.

Doctor led aligner care puts health first with personalised planning, regular reviews and adjustments that respond to how your teeth actually move.

Choose orthodontic care that treats you as a patient, not a purchase.

👉 Choose care that sees the whole picture. Follow for guidance that keeps your smile safe stable and truly lasting.

09/01/2026

✨ Is a narrow jaw or crowded teeth genetic or caused by habits?

The answer is both.

Every child is born with a genetic range for jaw size and shape. How that potential develops depends on function and environment. In early childhood, the upper jaw can widen naturally.

This growth is guided by the tongue resting on the palate and balanced by the lips and cheeks.

As children get older, this flexibility reduces.
When this balance is disrupted, growth can narrow instead.

Common factors that can narrow a growing jaw 👇
1️⃣ Prolonged finger or pacifier use
Sucking increases cheek pressure and lowers the tongue, allowing the jaw to narrow.
2️⃣ Mouth breathing
When nasal breathing is blocked or a tongue tie is present, the tongue stays low.
Without tongue support, the upper jaw narrows.
3️⃣ Feeding and swallowing patterns
Breastfeeding supports a healthy swallow.
If the tongue pushes forward instead of upward, an open bite can develop over time.
🧠 Structure and function are closely linked.
Tongue posture, breathing, and swallowing shape jaw growth and tooth position.

👧🧒 Why ages 8 to 10 matter
This is a key window to align front teeth, support nasal breathing, and create space for adult teeth.
Early guidance often takes 4 to 18 months.
The goal is not early treatment for every child.
The goal is restoring normal function while growth is still on your child’s side.

👉 Follow for Part 2 on treatment options by age.
🔍 Further learning (YouTube):
Concepts discussed are supported by visual explanations from channels such as

19/12/2025

You only have one smile. Make the right choice.

A smile simulation can look perfect.

But it takes experience to know if a plan is safe and feasible.

Before committing to orthodontic treatment, consider these 5 factors 👇

1️⃣ Expertise
A smile isn’t just aesthetics. Unsafe plans can push teeth out of the bone, leading to gum recession, sensitivity, or even tooth loss.

Tooth movement requires a deep understanding of biology, mechanics, and growth especially in younger patients.

The plan determines the outcome. If the plan isn’t right, you’d be committing to 20–22 hours of aligner wear every day for a result that isn’t what you expect.

2️⃣ Experience
Dental school does not teach how to do orthodontics. That’s why I spent three extra years specialising and learning from experienced mentors.

Specialising means spending every working hour on braces, Invisalign, and growth modification (rather than a mix of cleanings, extractions, crowns, dentures, or implants.)

That’s how experience builds fast. After hundreds of cases, I’ve learnt to foresee problems, avoid them, and solve them when they arise.

3️⃣ Proper examination for a healthy foundation
A proper consultation includes facial, dental, and functional analysis. X-rays are a must. Starting orthodontics with unhealthy gums or hidden teeth can create bigger issues later.
Photos alone miss too much.

4️⃣ Suitability
Your doctor should be able to explain whether braces, aligners, or a hybrid plan best suits your teeth and your lifestyle.

One size doesn’t fit all.

5️⃣ Materials
Plastic may look the same, but your teeth feel the difference.
Some patented materials are gentler and more comfortable which matters when you’re wearing them 20–22 hours a day.

Orthodontics isn’t just about aesthetics. It can affects your teeth, gum and general health, how you speak, eat, and how you feel. It is about designing the smile you live in every day and your confidence.

Choose a trusted orthodontist — not DIY aligners.

If you’re not sure, book a consultation to explore your options and get clarity before committing. Follow for Part 2 on DIY aligners.

Dr Emily Ng

15/04/2026

09/04/2026

04/04/2026

02/04/2026

31/03/2026

06/03/2026

03/03/2026

30/01/2026

20/01/2026

09/01/2026

19/12/2025

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