Thumb-Sucking, Pacifiers, and More!

While young children may rely on thumb-sucking and pacifiers to self-soothe, prolonged habits can cause damage or shifting in their teeth.

At KidCo, our dedicated pediatric dentists are trained experts in helping kids say goodbye to these habits. When the time is right, we’ll work your child to understand the need to move past bad oral habits and develop strategies to give them up. 

For kids struggling to adjust, we also offer habit-breaking therapeutic appliances like thumb-guards, which are a safe and easy method to discourage thumb-sucking.

If your child has a persistent oral habit, don’t worry! We’ve helped many children move past these habits, to keep their teeth happy and healthy for years to come. Our pediatric dentists have the skills, experience, and kid-friendly service to help them say goodbye to bad oral habits, and hello to healthy smiles!

Thumb-Sucking, Tongue-Thrusting, Pacifiers, and More! We Help Your Child Move On

Children have a variety of self-soothing habits that help them calm down, get to sleep, or just feel comfortable throughout the day and at night. These include thumb-sucking, tongue-thrusting, use of a pacifier or “binky”, sucking on a blanket or t-shirt, and more. 

These habits are normal, age-appropriate behaviors for small children 0-4. However, as children begin to lose baby teeth and permanent teeth grow in, prolonged oral habits like this can disrupt healthy growth and dental development.

The American Dental Association notes that most children voluntarily give such habits up between 2 and 4 years old. Many children may need additional support to give up a comforting habit like thumb-sucking.

KidCo pediatric dentists and staff are trained and experienced in helping children move past these oral habits, and can help parents and caregivers strategize about healthy, supportive methods to wean their child off them.

Our dental team has tried-and-true strategies to discourage thumb-sucking, tongue-thrusting, and other such habits. And if your child needs further support, we have habit-breaking appliances such as thumb-guards to help your child move on.

Our no-tears, no-fear methods help your family move past these habits, to keep kids smiling and ensuring proper adult teeth growth.

My Child Grinds Their Teeth – Can You Help?

Teeth grinding – also known as bruxism – is a common habit in children. There are many causes of bruxism: children’s teeth may be improperly aligned, causing an uncomfortable bite, or it may be a way to alleviate pain from earaches or teething. Other children may grind their teeth while sleeping without realizing it. If your child complains of dental pain or headaches after waking up, it may be a sign they are grinding their teeth at night.

Most children outgrow bruxism on their own – it tends to lessen by 6-9 years of age. If your child has prolonged teeth grinding, or if it’s causing damage to their teeth, KidCo pediatric dentists can help.

We offer habit-breaking therapies such as mouthguards to discourage dental grinding at night, and help your family develop strategies to keep your child from grinding their teeth. With patient, affirmative support and a positive environment, your child should be able to gain control over their bruxism!