Babies and young children suck their thumbs to relieve stress, boredom, and anxiety. For most, this habit will naturally lessen as they age.  If a child continues sucking their thumb past the point at which their permanent teeth start to grow in, this habit can result in malocclusion and potentially serious tissue damage.

As a dental professional, you are counted upon to help advise parents on how to eliminate this behavior. Advise may simply not be enough.   Several different appliances have been developed to make thumb sucking uncomfortable or painful for children. We recommend something a little different (and a little less intrusive) – the Blue Grass Appliance.

The Blue Grass directs a Teflon roller to the most superior aspect of the palate. The roller makes it impossible for the child to comfortably suck their thumb while simultaneously providing an alternative attention grabber. The child can spin the roller with their tongue to replace the habit of sucking a thumb for comfort.

This simple and painless solution can effectively break thumb sucking habits, preventing bigger dental issues down the road for your young patients.

Contact SML to learn more about the Blue Grass Appliance.