Healthy Habits - Tips To Help Your Child Break The Habit of Thumbsucking

 Toni-Ann Antoniato is a speech-language pathologist, specializing in myofunctional therapy. She is the CPO of Spot Pal, a tongue training appliance & is available for interviews.

 

Thumb sucking is a common habit amongst infants and young children, but do we know the lasting effects on tongue posture and overall health? According to the Mayo Clinic, infants typically suck their thumbs until approximately 6 to 7 months of age. This is around the age that the sucking reflex subsides.

 

If children continue thumb-sucking through their toddler years, their risk and likelihood of developmental consequences throughout the growth process increases. Prolonged sucking and/or oral habits can: 

1. change the shape of your entire mouth, 

2. change the height and shape of the top of your mouth (hard palate), 

3. change how much space you have inside of your nose for breathing, 

4. change the size, shape and appearance of your tongue,  

5. change how your teeth grow and what your smile looks like. 

6.create a tongue thrust swallow,

7. create cause speech issues, 

8. inhibits the eight muscles of the tongue from developing the necessary strength and range of motion to produce an "adult swallow".  

 

1. Create Awareness: Talk to your child about why it is important to stop thumb sucking.  Make sure that they understand that these habits can impact how your face grows, how your facial muscles develop and what your mouth and smile will look like. 

 

2. Positive Reinforcement: Offer praise when your child refrains from thumb sucking. Positive reinforcement can motivate them to break the habit.

 

3. Involve Your Child: Make your child an active participant in the process. Ask them for their ideas on how to stop thumb sucking.

 

4. Use a Reward Chart: Create a chart where your child can mark the days they successfully avoid thumb sucking. Offer rewards for consistent progress.

 

5. Check out Spot Pal as it is an effective tongue training tool that can help reduce the habit of thumb-sucking.

 

About:

 

Spot Pal is the WORLD's first CUSTOM TONGUE TRAINING APPLIANCE.  This innovative company was founded by Janine Stiene, a Speech-Language Pathologist and myofunctional therapist. SPOT PAL™, is a custom fit tongue training appliance designed to break harmful oral habits.