Habit-breaking appliances
Some bites are shaped by a habit rather than by the teeth. A small appliance helps a child let go of it.
Suits: Mainly kids whose thumb sucking, tongue thrust or mouth breathing is already changing the bite.
- Age
- Mainly kids
- How long it takes
- Until the habit stops
How it works
The habit and its effect on the bite are checked with child and parent.
An appliance is chosen for the habit: a guard, a tongue crib or an oral screen.
Mouth breathing from a blocked nose or large tonsils is referred to ENT first.
Once the habit stops, the teeth often settle. Anything left is treated later.
The first weeks
- Eating and speaking feel different for a few days while the tongue adapts.
- The first nights are the hardest for a thumb habit. It gets easier as the habit fades.
- Message us if anything rubs or feels loose.
Questions
When should a thumb habit worry us?
Most children stop on their own by the time the adult front teeth come in. If the habit carries on after that, or the bite is already changing, it is worth a check.
Does the appliance hurt?
No. It makes the habit harder to do and less satisfying, without pain. Children usually get used to it within a few days.
Does it work if my child does not want to stop?
It works best when the child wants to stop. Dr. Mashaly explains the appliance to the child as well as the parent, in words the child understands.
Book a consultation
A first visit with Dr. Mashaly, in Zamalek or Newgiza.
Already a patient? Open your care folder