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Thumb Sucking Habits Could Lead To A Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment Philadelphia, PA
little girl brushing her teeth

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!

Posted on behalf of Broad Street Braces

1819 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA , 19148

Phone: (215) 234-3030

Email:

Mon – 8am to 5pm
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Wed – 8am to 5pm
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Fri – 8am to 1pm

Our Patient Reviews

Broad Street Braces

5.0 / 5.0

Based on 387 reviews

Felicia W

Excellent staff, excellent service with trusty expertise. It was overall a great experience for my son and myself. We are highly satisfied with all the services performed today.

Alisa O

I am pleased with this Orthodontist location because they are very prompt with appointments. It's never a long wait. The staff is kind and willing to fix misunderstandings quickly. They actually play relaxing music in the office. My favorite staff member is Trinh because she answers questions gracefully. Trinh always greets me with a smile. Glad I chose this dental office.

Phuong H

Really nice office. Very clean and modern. Everyone is friendly, especially Trinh. She is great. Love taking my son here.

Refie H

The staff is really friendly, very satisfied with the service. The place is cozy, and also clean, seriously I recommend it to anyone who wanted to have the braces on

Kevin A

My mom received THE BEST service here. Consultations & visits were a breeze & the staff was always so kind. Their bilingual employee, Sara, was very helpful because my mom only speaks Spanish.

Hung C

This is my son’s first time here. This Office is very nice and very professional. Great service. Mrs. Trinh did an excellent job helping us translate Vietnamese. She is really nice and did a great job! Thank you so much!

Angela D

Great experience!! welcoming and good at what they do. Ask for amanda- she's the best!

Thang N

Many friends told me that Trinh always does a great job and I am very lucky today to have her put my braces on! They look great. I am looking forward to coming back for my second appoinment. The treatment coordinator, Rachel is very friendly and welcoming. She is awesome. I would recommend anyone who is interested in braces to come to Broad Street Braces. You would love Dr. Neil!