When, Why, and How to Stop Your Child’s Thumb-Sucking Habit

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Should you allow your child to continue sucking their thumb until they stop naturally? Your optometrist in Parrish, FL, will tell you emphatically, no! You shouldn’t! And here’s why.

Allowing your child to continue sucking their thumb past a certain age could cause lifelong dental and social issues (more about that in a moment).

When to Stop Your Child’s Thumb-Sucking Habit

Babies suck their thumbs as a self-soothing mechanism. It’s natural and normal. Most children wean themselves off thumb-sucking around the age of three. However, if they are still sucking their thumb after the age of four, it could cause long-term dental problems.

Why Stop Your Child’s Thumb-Sucking Habit

Here are just a few of the oral issues your child could develop if they continue sucking their thumb after the age of four.

  •       Overbite, open bite
  •       Misaligned teeth
  •       Speech impediments
  •       Social impacts

How to Stop Your Child’s Thumb-Sucking Habit

Your child’s optometrist has what’s called a palatal crib appliance. It’s a semicircle of wires placed behind your child’s front teeth. The palatal crib prevents contact between your child’s thumb and gums. Breaking this contact removes the pleasure sensation a child receives from sucking their thumb.

So, without a pleasant response, your child no longer needs to suck their thumb and no need to continue the thumb-sucking behavior.

The palatal crib is non-invasive and works like a charm. And children don’t seem to mind it. This early orthodontic treatment in Parrish, FL, is the one simple thing that could save you thousands of dollars in dental treatments later.

Needless to say, it’s well worth being proactive when it comes to caring for your child’s dental needs.

Looking for an Optometrist in Parrish, FL?

If you want help stopping your child’s thumb-sucking habit, please Contact Orthodontic Specialists today. Our non-intrusive oral appliances will break that habit in no time, saving you thousands of dollars in dental treatments.

 

 

 

How Does Two-Phase Treatment Work?

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Two-phase treatment refers to an orthodontic service that can help children straighten their teeth even before they’re ready for more intensive treatments, like braces or Invisalign. While most people think of kids in their teens wearing these devices, the reality is that orthodontists in Parrish, FL can help kids as young as seven years old get the intervention they need when they’re young.

What Is Two-Phase Treatment?

Two-phase treatment refers to two separate courses of treatment with a break in between. The orthodontist sees the child when they’re young, looks for potential problems with their development, such as damage caused by thumb-sucking, and then maps out the best ways to help the patient. Once the child returns, everyone should be on the same page about how to best move forward.

How Does Two-Phase Treatment Help?

Two-phase treatment in Parrish, FL, makes for a seamless transition between baby and adult teeth. Certain interventions can eliminate the need for braces, extractions, or even oral surgery, whether the child is having trouble swallowing, aligning the jaw, or suffering from overcrowding.

Where to Find Two-Phase Treatment in Parrish

Two-phase treatment is essentially a proactive measure. While it’s not always possible to predict how teeth will develop, these treatments are proven to give orthodontists a head start. There is no guarantee that these treatments will permanently fix your child’s teeth, but the odds are much better that you won’t have to pay for extra services simply because the issues weren’t caught in time.

If you’re interested in two-phase treatment in Parrish, contact Orthodontic Specialists today to learn more about how two-phase treatment will be scheduled for your child and what you can expect from the treatments.

Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment

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At Orthodontic Specialists, we recognize the tremendous benefits of early orthodontic treatment. Whether that consists of Invisalign® or another orthodontic solution, early treatment can guide the development of the teeth and jaw, often preventing the need for longer and more complex treatment later on. Here are some of the benefits of early orthodontic treatment in Parrish, FL.

Improvement of Facial Aesthetics

Problems such as crowded teeth, underbites and overbites can detrimentally impact a child’s facial aesthetics. As children’s self-esteem is so fragile, this can have negative ramifications across multiple areas of their life, such as their social life, play and sports activities and even scholastic work. With the help of early orthodontic treatment as a child heads into the formative teen years, your child can enjoy the confidence that an attractive smile can bring.

Address Harmful Oral Habits

In youngsters, thumb sucking, lingering attachment to a pacifier and tongue thrusting are common and harmful to oral health. With early orthodontic treatment, many of these harmful oral habits go by the wayside with the attention of your orthodontist in Parrish, FL. By intercepting these habits early, the orthodontist can help prevent potential complications and promote healthier oral development.

Improvement of Function

The same issues that can negatively affect facial aesthetics can also have a more serious impact on the function of the teeth and jaw. Correcting misalignments can improve a child’s bite, making it easier to chew and speak properly. It can also reduce the risk of developing speech impediments and ensure that oral hygiene practices, such as brushing and flossing, are more effective, preventing tooth decay and gum disease.

As a proactive approach to dental care, early orthodontic treatment offers a way to improve aesthetics, address harmful habits and enhance function. Contact us today to book an appointment for your child.