HOW DOES THUMB SUCKING AND PACIFIER USE IMPACT YOUR CHILD’S MYOFUNCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT? Written By: Dr. Ankita Shah, 6 January 2023
Myofunctional development is vital for overall oral health, involving the coordination and function of mouth, face, and throat muscles for essential activities like swallowing, chewing, and speaking. While these habits provide comfort and security to infants and young children, excessive or prolonged use can potentially affect their myofunctional development. It is crucial to encourage healthy oral habits from an early age. Understanding these effects can help implement strategies to minimise any negative consequences of these habits.
A] Understanding Myofunctional Development
Proper myofunctional development promotes the correct alignment of teeth, prevents malocclusions (misaligned teeth), and supports optimal jaw development. Additionally, it aids in effective chewing and digestion, reducing the risk of dental problems such as cavities and gum disease. Furthermore, proper myofunctional development can enhance speech clarity and prevent issues like lisps or speech impediments.
Myofunctional development encompasses various aspects including tongue posture, swallowing patterns, and oral muscle coordination.
Let’s take a quick look at these aspects understanding how each contributes to myofunctional development:
Tongue Posture: The ideal tongue posture should involve your tongue resting against the roof of the mouth, exerting gentle pressure. The tongue acts as the natural palate expander that helps in shaping the dental arches and promoting proper alignment of the teeth.
Swallowing patterns: A correct swallowing pattern involves the tongue pressing against the spot in the roof of the mouth and the entire tongue moves in a wave-like fashion from front to back without pursing one’s lips and pushing the tongue in between the teeth. This action ensures that the muscles work harmoniously, preventing issues like tongue thrusting, which can negatively impact the dental alignment and facial development.
Oral muscle coordination: It refers to the synchronised movements of the muscles involved in chewing and speaking. When these muscles coordinate effectively, they contribute to proper bite alignment, efficient mastication, and clear speech.
B] Thumb Sucking and Myofunctional Development
Thumb sucking is a common behaviour among children, providing them with comfort and security. While emotional dependence may drive some kids to suck their thumbs, others tend to do it primarily during sleep. In certain cases, children who suck their thumbs during sleep may exhibit additional symptoms such as allergies, enlarged tonsils, chronic ear infections, restless sleep, snoring, and mouth breathing, which can impact their jaw development.
Thumb sucking can also be associated with dental problems such as forwardly placed teeth, spacing or overlapping between teeth, short and everted lower lips, open mouth posture, and crossbites.
Additionally, some children with thumb-sucking habits may have a tongue tie, a condition where the lingual frenulum is shorter, affecting swallowing, breathing, and speech. Identifying and addressing a tongue tie early on is vital for promoting healthy myofunctional development and preventing dental and speech-related issues.
1. Disruption of proper tongue posture
When a child sucks their thumb, they try to stimulate pleasure receptors in the roof of the mouth. The tongue may rest lower in the mouth due to mouth breathing, low muscle tone or a tongue tie. This altered tongue posture prevents it from stimulating the pleasure receptors in the roof of the mouth. A tongue tie is a condition where the child’s tongue is tethered to the floor of their mouth, limiting its movement. Consequently, the child may not be able to raise the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which can hinder proper development. The tongue is considered the natural jaw expander.
Moreover, in some cases, thumb sucking during sleep may serve as a way to push the tongue out of the airway, potentially helping the child breathe more easily during their slumber, especially if they have a tongue tie. However, this can further contribute to the incorrect resting position of the tongue and may lead to issues like malocclusions, such as open bites or crossbites, impacting dental arch development.
2. Disruption normal swallowing patterns
Furthermore, a thumb sucking habit can also disrupt normal swallowing patterns. The thumb can interfere with the tongue’s natural movement during swallowing, potentially leading to tongue thrusting or an abnormal swallowing pattern. These issues can further contribute to dental misalignments and affect the coordination of oral muscles.
Parents and caregivers need to be aware of the potential impact of thumb-sucking on myofunctional development and take proactive measures such as thumb sucking treatment to address the habit.
Get Expert Recommendations: Submit your details to receive personalized recommendations on addressing thumb sucking and pacifier use for your child’s dental well-being.
C] Pacifier Use and Myofunctional Development
The use of pacifiers among infants and young children offers several benefits, including soothing and comforting them. Pacifiers provide a natural way for babies to satisfy their innate need to suck, which can help them feel secure and content. However, it is essential to consider its potential impact on myofunctional development.
Pacifiers can influence tongue posture, swallowing patterns, and oral muscle coordination, just like thumb sucking. To summarise:
Extended pacifier use can disrupt tongue posture, leading to malocclusions and hindered dental arch development.
It can also impact swallowing patterns , causing tongue thrusting and abnormal swallowing. These disturbances can result in oral muscle imbalances and affect overall oral function.
Thumb sucking and pacifier use become problematic when they persist beyond the age of 2-3 years. This is the critical age range when these habits can negatively affect myofunctional development and increase the risk of dental problems.
Parents should be alert to signs that may indicate potential issues, such as dental misalignments, open bites, speech difficulties, or breathing problems. If any of these signs are observed, it is important to consult with a paediatric dentist or orthodontist to assess the impact of pacifier use on myofunctional development and determine the appropriate course of action.
D] Intervention and Management Strategies
There are several strategies that can be employed to intervene and manage the impact of thumb sucking and pacifier use on myofunctional development. These strategies aim to address the underlying causes, promote healthy habits, and facilitate proper oral muscle coordination.
Listed below are some effective approaches recommended by experienced healthcare provider:
Myofunctional therapy: Myofunctional therapy focuses on retraining oral muscles and promoting proper tongue posture and swallowing patterns, aiding in the correction of myofunctional issues.
Tongue-Tie Treatment: Tongue-Tie treatment not only improves oral function but also facilitates a smoother transition for children to naturally wean off thumb sucking and pacifier use, promoting healthier oral habits and development.
Positive Reinforcement: Encouraging and rewarding children for not engaging in thumb-sucking or pacifier use can motivate them to develop alternative coping mechanisms and break the habit.
Distraction Techniques: Providing children with engaging activities, toys, or soothing alternatives can distract them from thumb-sucking or pacifier use, redirecting their attention to healthier alternatives.
Oral Appliances: Devices like Myobrace, Myo Munchee, Jaw Expanders, and Jaw Repositioning Orthopaedic Appliances can be utilised to correct oral muscle imbalances, improve jaw development, and promote proper oral function.
Behavioural Techniques: Implementing behaviour modification strategies, such as using charts, rewards, or habit-breaking exercises, can help children gradually reduce and eliminate thumb sucking or pacifier use.
Peer Influence: Encouraging children to interact with peers who do not engage in thumb sucking or pacifier use can have a positive influence, motivating them to emulate healthier behaviours.
Limiting Access: Gradually limiting access to thumb sucking or pacifiers by setting specific times or situations for their use can aid in breaking the habit.
Oral Motor Exercises: Engaging in targeted exercises that strengthen oral muscles can help improve overall oral muscle coordination and function.
Professional Consultation: Seeking guidance from an airway paediatric dentist, orthodontists, or myofunctional therapists can provide valuable insights and personalised strategies for managing myofunctional issues.
Address Underlying Causes: Identifying and addressing any underlying factors contributing to thumb sucking or pacifier use, such as anxiety or sensory needs, can be essential in developing effective intervention plans.
Get Expert Recommendations: Submit your details to receive personalized recommendations on addressing thumb sucking and pacifier use for your child’s dental well-being.
Conclusion
Myofunctional development is vital for oral health, including tongue posture, swallowing patterns, and oral muscle coordination. As observed in this guide, Thumb sucking and pacifier use impact myofunctional development. So, it is crucial to encourage healthy alternatives and seek professional guidance. It is important to seek help of an airway paediatric dentist when persistent thumb sucking or pacifier use is observed, as early intervention can prevent long-term consequences. Treatment options include myofunctional therapy, oral appliances, airway orthodontics and behavioural techniques.
For more information or assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to dental and medical professionals. Your child’s oral health and myofunctional development are key to their overall well-being.
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