Ajit R Patel DDS MS Orthodontics

Many children fall victim to the habit of thumb sucking and may even suck on a bottle or pacifier past the recommended age of one year. While it is true that initially thumb sucking or using a pacifier is a way for a child to feel secure and calm, when the teeth begin coming in thumbing sucking can be very detrimental. The sucking, especially constant thumb sucking, can cause teeth to form in several different ways such as protruding inwards or growing in at an outward slant so that there is basically a hole in the front teeth when the teeth are closed. Prolonged sucking can also cause the jaw to become misaligned thusly causing jaw problems. This misalignment of teeth and jaw can cause a whole host of problems, not just for the baby teeth but also for the adult teeth. For children that have suffered the damaging effects of prolonged sucking, an orthodontist can use several appliances for orthodontics such as braces to correct these bad habits and allow for teeth straightening. In the cases of a misaligned jaw due to thumb sucking, oral surgery may be necessary. If a parent, dentist, or orthodontist can spot the effects of thumb sucking ahead of time, early orthodontic intervention for these children will help to prevent .

If your child is still sucking his or her thumb a Habit appliance can help overcome this harmful habit. Call now before the problem gets worse!