Thumb-sucking, finger-sucking, and tongue-thrusting are natural ways for young children to self-soothe. When the habit continues as permanent teeth arrive, though, it may push teeth out of place and change how the upper and lower teeth fit together. An oral habit-breaking appliance may help your child stop the habit before those changes take hold.
Dr. Michelle Haghpanah, Dr. Reena Grover, and our team at Little Bytes Pediatric Dentistry in Palo Alto offer habit-breaking appliances as part of our early orthodontic care for children. Both doctors are board-certified pediatric dentists with privileges at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford and Kaiser Santa Clara.
An oral habit-breaking appliance is a small metal device that fits inside the mouth to help a child stop a sucking habit. It sits behind the upper front teeth and resembles a metal retainer, and the upper molars hold it in place. The appliance gets in the way of the thumb or tongue and serves as a physical reminder to stop the habit.
Some appliances are removable, and others are fixed in place. A recent systematic review of fixed and removable habit-breaking appliances found fixed designs tend to correct habit-related bite problems more predictably, while removable designs can work similarly well when a child cooperates consistently. Our doctors choose the type that fits your child’s age, habit, and ability to follow instructions.
Most children outgrow thumb-sucking early in childhood. If your child still sucks a thumb or finger at four years old, schedule a visit with our team so we can check how the habit is affecting the teeth and bite. We may also recommend an appliance for tongue-thrusting or lip-biting, and we can evaluate other habits, such as teeth grinding, at the same visit.
Timing matters. A 2024 systematic review of sucking habits and malocclusion linked persistent sucking habits to a higher chance of bite problems, and longer habits to more bite defects.
Placing the appliance is usually comfortable, and most children do not feel pain while wearing it. It may take some time to get used to. Your child’s tongue may feel sore where it rubs against the device, and speech may sound different at first.
Your child may also feel fussy for a few days without a thumb for comfort. These changes usually settle as your child adjusts, and we are happy to help you find new ways to soothe your child.
We start with an exam to look at your child’s habit, age, and bite. If an appliance may help, we choose a fixed or removable design and fit it during a visit. We check the appliance at regular visits, and we remove it once the habit has stopped and we confirm the teeth and bite are developing well.
Stopping a sucking or tongue habit early may help your child avoid problems such as these.
Early care also helps the jaw grow in proper alignment. Habit-breaking appliances are one of several early orthodontic options we offer, along with space maintainers and our HealthyStart program.
If you are ready to talk about your child’s habit, our team is here to help.
Little Bytes Pediatric Dentistry has served Palo Alto families for more than 10 years and holds a 4.9-star Google rating from 357 reviews. Dr. Haghpanah earned her DDS at New York University College of Dentistry and holds a master’s degree from Yale University, and our bilingual team welcomes every family. We also explain our fees and how we file insurance for fee-for-service patients.
If your child’s sucking or tongue habit is not fading, we are here to answer your questions and help you weigh your options. Contact our office to schedule a visit and find out whether a habit-breaking appliance may be right for your child.
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