Eliminate finger sucking, thumb sucking or dummy dependence
Sucking during infancy is healthy, natural and normal. In fact, this reflex is essential for survival. Hands, fingers and objects in the mouth are important during the early years for exploration and learning to feel and control the mouth. Many children will naturally outgrow this in time. However, some children don't. Extended oral habits can become detrimental for the growing face and mouth. There is evidence that sucking habits can lead to significant orthodontic problems which may well have been avoided with the right support. Myofunctional therapy can start at age 3 and there can be simple steps you can implement to help eliminate habits in a positive way. At about age 6, the adult teeth start to erupt. This is when orthodontic issues become more obvious. It also becomes incredibly important for sucking habits to be well and truly gone. The face and jaws continue to grow over the coming years and we really want the muscles of the mouth and face to be working properly. Children addicted to thumbs, fingers or dummies have an underlying myofunctional disorder that can be successfully addressed.
There are a few different ways we approach this issue and it will depend age and other health factors. Timing can be a really important factor in successful elimination. For example, if there are medical concerns (such as a compromised airway), a death in the family or even moving house can lead to increased anxiety. Often these times may not be appropriate to eliminate a habit that provides comfort. However, we can provide the right stimulation so that the nose, the tongue and the lips are moving well to counteract the detrimental effects of prolonged sucking
We understand these habits can be very difficult to stop and are often a very sensitive issue for both parents and children. This program has been developed due to the overwhelming demand from Dental Professionals and Speech Therapists that see first hand the detrimental affects, as well as the lack of practical help that parents have to eliminate them. It is all well and good for health professionals to warn you of the dangers of habits but when you have a child screaming for their dummy at you at 2am, or a child who is highly addicted to the thumb, this advice is practically useless. Our program has a very high success rate because we address both the physiological need to suck and the psychological issues surrounding the habit. It also provides your child with external support for successful elimination
We understand these habits can be very difficult to stop and are often a very sensitive issue for both parents and children. This program has been developed due to the overwhelming demand from Dental Professionals and Speech Therapists that see first hand the detrimental affects, as well as the lack of practical help that parents have to eliminate them. It is all well and good for health professionals to warn you of the dangers of habits but when you have a child screaming for their dummy at you at 2am, or a child who is highly addicted to the thumb, this advice is practically useless. Our program has a very high success rate because we address both the physiological need to suck and the psychological issues surrounding the habit. It also provides your child with external support for successful elimination
Quitting thumb sucking is important for several reasons:
Quitting thumb sucking can help prevent these issues and promote healthier development in children.
- Dental Health: Prolonged thumb sucking can lead to dental problems such as misalignment of teeth and bite issues, like an overbite or open bite. It can also affect the development of the roof of the mouth.
- Speech Clarity: Thumb sucking can interfere with proper speech development, potentially contributing to issues like lisping or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds.
- Thumb and Skin Problems: Continuous thumb sucking can cause skin problems, such as calluses, nail infections, or even deformation of the thumb.
- Psychological and Social Impact: Older children who continue to suck their thumbs may face teasing or social stigma, which can affect their self-esteem and social interactions.
- Increased Risk of Infections: Hands are exposed to various germs throughout the day. Thumb sucking increases the risk of transferring these germs into the mouth, potentially leading to illnesses.
Quitting thumb sucking can help prevent these issues and promote healthier development in children.
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Tess NorrisOral Health Therapist (BOH Adel)
Oro-myofunctional Therapist Over ten years clinical experience working in dental and orthodontic practices. Routinely collaborating with doctors, specialists, bodyworkers for full body approach
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how it works
As with all myofunctional disorders, we must properly assess the airway. There is a chance that your child's habit is supporting a compromised airway. We need to remember that the ability to breathe matters more than anything else in the world. If your child has an airway problem, you will not successfully eliminate a sucking habit. This is a chance to look further into what factors are driving the habit.
The secret is in the tongue. If the tongue is providing the right stimulus, then children don't feel the need to compensate with other objects. Now this is an oversimplification for sure. However, when we look a how the tongue and the jaws are moving to support 'normal' function we can provide the right strategy to eliminate all noxious sucking and work toward mature tongue rest posture, proper swallowing and nasal breathing. This can begin at age 3
For children who are a little bit older (5+years) and there is more urgency to eliminate habits due to orthodontic concerns, the strategy may be different. If you have a child who wants to quit, but just needs guidance and support we have a very structured approach which begins with your child choosing their 'quit day.' It is positive, structured and supported. Most children will succeed from day one and the program is complete in 1 month. I absolutely love the satisfaction in children's eyes when they have receive their gold medal prize. It is so rewarding for these kiddos and for me as a dental professional.
How long are you willing to flounder and argue with your child? Don't let oral habits exist in your family any longer
The secret is in the tongue. If the tongue is providing the right stimulus, then children don't feel the need to compensate with other objects. Now this is an oversimplification for sure. However, when we look a how the tongue and the jaws are moving to support 'normal' function we can provide the right strategy to eliminate all noxious sucking and work toward mature tongue rest posture, proper swallowing and nasal breathing. This can begin at age 3
For children who are a little bit older (5+years) and there is more urgency to eliminate habits due to orthodontic concerns, the strategy may be different. If you have a child who wants to quit, but just needs guidance and support we have a very structured approach which begins with your child choosing their 'quit day.' It is positive, structured and supported. Most children will succeed from day one and the program is complete in 1 month. I absolutely love the satisfaction in children's eyes when they have receive their gold medal prize. It is so rewarding for these kiddos and for me as a dental professional.
How long are you willing to flounder and argue with your child? Don't let oral habits exist in your family any longer
