Sucking is a normal part of development for infants, babies, and even very young children. But did you know that prolonged thumb/finger sucking can actually effect the oral cavity?

Sucking is a normal part of development for infants, babies, and even very young children. But did you know that prolonged thumb/finger sucking can actually effect the oral cavity?  Persistant thumb sucking after the primary teeth have erupted can actually change the growth patterns of the jaw and cause a significant misalignment of the teeth. If your child is still having trouble breaking the sucking habit, don’t worry,  here at Little Harpeth Children’s Dentistry, we have tips and tricks to help your family succeed in cessation.

• Avoid shame about the habit
• Focus on specific positive praise
• Set small, yet manageable goals
• Use a reward chart to track progress with a fun prize as the reward
• Use gentle reminders and introduce other coping strategies
• Never hesitate to reach out to the LHCD Smile Squad to help come out with other strategies.

Remeber the overall goal is to stop habits that can effect your childs jaw and teeth!