I am a Certified Myofuncational Therapist and Certified Orofacial Myologist, I’ve been in private practice for over 25 years.  During those years I’ve helped hundreds of people eliminate their tongue thrust, orofacial muscle disorders and over 250 children stop sucking their thumbs, fingers and pacifiers. 96% of the children I've treated for a sucking habit were able to eliminate their noxious habits within 30 days.

Sucking

It is very important to note that of all of my patients that stopped their sucking habit, none of them developed any aberrant habits. In fact the successful patients blossomed with self-confidence and exhibited pride in their accomplishment.

Infants have an innate urge to suck, however, when they reach 12 to 18 months frequent sucking is no longer necessary.  Except, perhaps, to help the parents keep the child quiet. Sucking may sooth children, make them more pliant or passive but, sucking can cause an addiction to the endorphins released by sucking. Endorphins are referred to as the feel good hormone. 

Should you or should you not take away your child’s pacifier? By 18 months, unless there are extenuating circumstances the pacifier should be gone! The good feeling from the endorphins does not compensate for the damage to the oral cavity by strong, frequent sucking. Even sucking just during a nap and/or at nighttime can cause damage to your child’s bite and dental arches. Thumb sucking may feel good to a child and keep a child quiet but, sucking is a dirty habit, it is not good for the child's teeth and body.

Usually, the process to stop digit sucking (finger, thumb or toe) should not be started before the age of 41/2 or  5 years of age. The time is right when the child is mature enough to understand why sucking is harmful and has a desire to stop sucking. A competent therapist's will determine if the child is truly ready to stop sucking and then provide the tools that will help the child eliminate her/his sucking habit.

Tongue Thrust / Orofacial Muscle Disorder

Tongue Thrust, Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) is treated in my office. Some OMD problems are demonstrated by: incorrect tongue resting posture, abnormal pressures by the tongue on the teeth during swallowing and consistently open lip posture.  These behaviors can have an adverse effect on: tooth eruption, stability of tooth position, the health of your gums, they can also affect speech production. Treatment for this condition can begin as early as 6 years of age. For further information about OMD please explore the rest of my website.

A musical wind instrument is frequently chosen because a child or the child’s parents like the looks and sound of the instrument. Occasionally a music teacher will choose a particular wind instrument for a child because the mouthpiece fits the shape of the child’s mouth.  Little thought is given to how a wind instrument may have a harmful effect on tongue position and tooth alignment. The link below identifies instruments that are best suited to help you choose an instrument best for your child’s occlusion.

Musical Instrument Selection Guide (Adobe PDF)

Please feel free to contact me at (847) 480-7860, (847) 827-4800 or at acw-860@sbcglobal  for additional information.

Yours Truly, Anita Weinfield