Have you ever wondered why babies put everything in their mouths? The answer is quite simple. Oral exploration represents a critical developmental stage in a baby's life. While parents need to monitor what their baby is doing and protect them from potential harm, it's perfectly normal to watch an infant grab an object and put it in their mouth to get a sense of its texture and taste.
In addition to exploring the world with their mouths, babies also find comfort sucking a thumb, finger, or pacifier. However, as a baby matures and develops increasing self-control and self-awareness, the prevalence of these habits should decrease. In fact, most children will give up these activities between 2 to 4 years of age.
Parents are advised that if their child's thumb, finger, or pacifier habit is still present when the permanent teeth are coming in, there is a greater chance of developing a bad bite. In other words, if the activity has not ceased by the age of five or six, it's time to help your child stop the habit in a constructive and supportive way.
It's a good idea to have our office check if any habit-related effects to the alignment of your child's teeth or jaws have occurred and if these changes affect their speech or other oral functions.
In addition to performing an evaluation, our office will discuss habit control strategies with you. We'll also follow your child's bite and facial development as they grow and make recommendations if and when any interceptive or corrective orthodontic care is needed.
Did you ever wonder what that odd clicking, crunching, and scraping sound you hear at night or occasionally during the day might be? It could be someone is grinding their teeth. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is quite common in children and most prevalent during sleep.
The good news is that most kids outgrow it. However, in some cases, the condition can lead to consequences to a child’s oral health and well-being. A teeth grinding habit can wear down the dental enamel, resulting in tooth sensitivity or chipped teeth. It can also cause some children to experience headaches, and face, ear, or jaw pain.
While pediatric teeth grinding may diminish as a child matures, some cases require therapeutic intervention. A specialized nighttime dental appliance known as a night guard keeps the teeth apart and stops them from grinding against each other. Somewhat similar in design to a sports mouthguard, it prevents unhealthy trauma to the teeth and alleviates pressure on the jaw joint and surrounding areas. If the condition seems to be exacerbated by stress or other factors, additional types of supportive guidance and therapeutic care can help.
Email: