Helping your child develop healthy oral habits early can prevent long-term problems in both teeth and jaw development.
✅ Healthy Habits to Build Early
- Brush twice daily with a pea-sized fluoride toothpaste (from age 3+)
- Floss once teeth begin to touch
- Encourage drinking water after meals and snacks
- Use a child-sized soft toothbrush and replace every 3 months
- Make brushing fun — use songs, stories, or brushing charts!
🚫 Avoid These Common Mistakes
- Don’t let your child sleep with a bottle (especially with milk/juice)
- Don’t dip pacifiers in honey or sugar
- Avoid frequent snacking or grazing throughout the day
- Don’t share spoons or cups with your child — bacteria can transfer
⚠️ Watch Out for Deleterious Oral Habits
Some habits may seem harmless in early years but can cause significant dental and facial issues if they persist. These include:
👶 Thumb/Finger Sucking
- Natural in infancy, but if it continues beyond age 3–4, it can affect the position of teeth and jaw growth
- Can lead to open bite, protrusion of front teeth, and even speech issues
- We offer gentle habit-breaking solutions and myofunctional support
👅 Tongue Thrusting
- When a child pushes their tongue against or between the teeth while swallowing or speaking
- May cause open bite or speech issues
- Early diagnosis allows for OMFT (Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy) to retrain tongue posture
😷 Mouth Breathing
- Can be due to enlarged adenoids, allergies, or nasal block
- Often leads to dry mouth, long face syndrome, underdeveloped jaws, and even poor sleep
- As a clinic focused on Airway Dentistry, we work alongside ENT specialists and offer growth-guided appliances if needed
🧲 Nail Biting / Lip Biting / Pencil Chewing
- Can cause enamel wear, chipped teeth, or misalignment
- May be stress-related; we guide parents on positive redirection techniques
🍼 Prolonged Pacifier Use or Bottle-Feeding
- Can contribute to improper tongue and lip posture, leading to malocclusions
- Best to wean off by 18 months – 2 years
💬 Our Role: Intervene Early, Guide Gently
We believe in early detection and positive reinforcement. With the right habit correction appliances, myofunctional training, and lots of encouragement, we help your child break bad habits gently — before they impact permanent teeth or facial development.
