As dental professionals are well aware, oral habits which begin in infancy -- like thumb sucking – can often be the cause of dental disasters later in childhood and even into adulthood. For instance, pediatric Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

And while most parents recognize that thumb sucking is a bad habit, many will fail to attach much significance to a habit that has a calming effect and is perceived as a phase they will “grow out of” eventually. The fact is, there is more to thumb sucking and oral habits than was previously postulated.

New thinking on the subject of oral habits and the mouth breathing that often results from habit indulgence suggests that myofunctional therapy is advisable as early as the first year of life.

Myofunctional therapists use a variety of supportive techniques to promote self-awareness and positive habits… and to prevent the dysfunctions that characterize pediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

If you’d like to know more about Myofunctional Therapy and noninvasive treatment modalities for the treatment of Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) in children, visit www.joymoeller.com.