The Kinder-Gentler Program

Many children struggle with quitting the following habits. Our Lollipop Thumb Stop Habit Elimination program is proven to help children eliminate their noxious oral habits. Most children can begin treatment at age four with their habits being altered within 1-3 days, however, the program requires a few weeks of therapy.

Thumb/Finger Sucking

Thumb or finger sucking is a noxious oral habit that can alter jaw growth and development as well as create an open bite. Open bites can encourage low tongue posture and an open mouth posture. Often times, digit sucking is a sign of possible airway issues or possibly tethered oral tissues such as a tongue tie. Proper growth development of the skeletal and dental structures happens when the tongue and facial muscles are retrained to proper function and placement.

Long-term Pacifier Use

Prolonged pacifier habits can alter jaw growth and development as well as causing an open bite and abnormal eruption patterns. Pacifier habits can encourage a low forward resting posture that is not ideal for jaw and teeth development. Pacifier habits can encourage an open mouth posture. It is normal for babies to seek or need the pacifier in infancy but it should be reserved for soothing purposes only after 6 months of age to avoid it becoming a prolonged habit.

Nail-biting

Nail-biting is a noxious oral habit that can alter jaw growth and development as well as causing damage to teeth and eruption patterns. Often times, it is associated with an airway issue as the jaw is lowered for better airway positioning. Nail-biting can also be a transferred habit from thumb or digit sucking. A thorough evaluation is needed to determine any other therapeutic interventions. Nail-biting causes the tongue to stay in a lowered position that is not ideal for proper oral resting posture encouraging an open mouth posture.