Non-Nutritive Habits – Dallas, TX

Encouraging Better Habits to Produce a Healthier Smile

At Avion Dental & Orthodontics, our family dentists work together to develop tailored plans for our youngest patients. When parents arrive worried about their child’s thumb-sucking habits or extended pacifier use, we are ready to provide helpful tips to break these non-nutritive habits in Dallas. As a result, their smiles are more likely to develop healthily as they approach each new stage of life. If you are concerned about your child’s bad oral habits, call to schedule an appointment with our team today.

Why Choose Avion Dental & Orthodontics for Non-Nutritive Habits?

Multiple Family Dentists Ready to Treat Young Patients
Bilingual Dentists & Team for Greater Communication
We Proudly Welcome Your Dental Insurance Benefits

What to Know About Thumb-Sucking

Young child sucking their thumb while lying down

Thumb-sucking is a common habit many babies and toddlers practice as a way to self-soothe. While many children replace their thumb with a stuffed animal or blanket for comfort, this habit often persists into childhood and can jeopardize their smiles.

This non-nutritive habit can lead to dental and bite issues, making it difficult for adult teeth to erupt properly. It can also affect facial development if the habit is not broken early on.

The Impact of Thumb-Sucking on Your Child's Oral Health

Up-close view of an overbite and gapped teeth

If you have a child who is at least four or five years old and they are still sucking their thumb, it’s time to talk to their dentist about ways to break the habit. If you don’t, they can experience:

Misaligned adult teeth
Asymmetrical facial development
The development of an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite
Gaps between teeth

The longer you wait to seek professional help to stop their thumb-sucking, the greater their chances of developing any of the issues listed above. This can lead to orthodontic intervention as they get older, as well as issues with speech, poor oral health, sleep-disordered breathing, and more.

Tips to Break the Habit

Girl hugging her parent and smiling

Attempting to break their thumb-sucking habit is unlikely to be easy, but it’s not impossible. Our team is here to make the process less stressful for you and your child by offering helpful tips that include:

Encouraging your child each time they choose not to suck their thumb when they normally would.
Using positive language to remind them of how important it is to stop sucking their thumb. Do not scold them, but offer gentle words and clear alternatives.
Identifying triggers that cause your child to suck their thumb and avoiding them when possible.
Rewarding your child with play time at the park or a small toy.
Placing a sock on their hand or a band-aid on their thumb to keep them from sucking their thumb.