Oral habits, like non-nutritive sucking and teeth grinding,
are common in young children, and unfortunately can cause more harm than good
if they aren’t stopped at the proper time.
Non-nutritive sucking (includes sucking on a thumb, hand
pacifier, toys, blankets, or other non food items) helps comfort children when
they are feeling tired, upset, or nervous. Children often end non-nutritive
sucking between the ages of 2 and 4, those who use pacifiers stop earlier than
those who suck on their thumbs. Should the sucking continue, it may change the
shape of the child’s mouth and teeth which opens the door to potential speech and
bite problems.
It’s important to help your child break the sucking habit,
some ways include using reminders like putting a bandage on your child’s thumb
or have them wear a mitten or sock at night. You may also choose to give your
child something to track small successes; add a gold star to the calendar each
day the child doesn’t suck. After a certain amount of time, the child gets a
reward. If you still find yourself having problems, you can always discuss with
any of our staff during your next dental visit for other strategies to help
break this tricky habit.
Why children grind their teeth on the other hand isn’t
always clear. Sometimes it’s due to stress, teething pain, or just because the
top and bottom teeth don’t line up properly. And while we know teeth grinding typically
ends by 7 years of age once the permanent molars erupt, sometimes it doesn’t
always stop over time. If you are concerned that your child’s teeth grinding is
serious, schedule an appointment with us. We’ll evaluate if their habit has
caused any major problems and may discuss the option of a custom fit mouth guard
to wear at night.
If you have more questions or concerns with your child's oral habits - schedule an appointment at any of our 3 locations. We'll evaluate the situation and discuss solutions to ensure your child is paving the way towards excellent oral health!
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