Thumb Sucking Habits Could Lead To A Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment

Thumb Sucking babies usually make fairly happy babies. They are able to soothe themselves without the fear of a lost pacifier. No need to hop out of your minivan while driving and head to the back seat to reinsert a pacifier. However, that thumb sucking habit it likely to lead to a need for a two-phase orthodontic treatment.
Thumb sucking can cause difficulties with the proper and natural growth of your child’s mouth. It can cause misalignment with your child’s teeth. It can also cause the roof of the mouth to change, depending on the level of forcefulness that your child sucks on his thumb or fingers.
These changes that can cause your child’s mouth to adjust, may lead to the need for a two-phase orthodontic treatment which usually includes a palate expander and possibly braces on the top 4-6 teeth.
Children usually grow out of the need to pacify themselves around the ages of 2 to 4. To help encourage an early breaking of this habit you can:

• Offer positive words to encourage them to break the habit.
• Offer alternatives for thumb sucking. Many times your child is sucking their thumb or fingers to help them feel more secure.
• Offer alternate object or words of comfort to help ease anxiety.
• Allow your child to help choose the method and reward for stopping, if your child is older.
• Enlist the help of the family to help be team encouragers to your little one trying to break the habit.

Call and book your appointment with Broad Street Braces to discover when your child is ready to get a healthy smile!