Thumb Sucking/Snoring Appliances

Thumb sucking is frequent in babies and small kids. However, if this habit remains after the age of 3, it can disrupt the healthy formation of the dental arches. Since the jaws of kids are soft, they quickly get misshaped, and it can eventually result in an open bite in the child.

Anti-thumb sucking appliances are used to break the thumb sucking habit. This device is fitted in the child’s jaws, which helps disrupt the habit of putting a thumb in the mouth. Similarly, there are anti-snoring appliances that, when fitted in the jaws, bring the lower jaw forward, making room for air to pass uninterrupted. This helps in getting rid of the snoring problem. Thumb sucking is born primarily out of habit, while snoring is mostly due to blockage in the nasal passage. 

Both would have long term effects on one’s dental structure if left ignored or untreated. Over an extended period, thumb sucking can cause visibly prominent teeth, like the displacement of incisors, from their original position, while snoring can cause severe problems like heart and brain problems.

Both anti-thumb sucking and snoring appliances, therefore, work by using a clamp to set the position of teeth or jaws in such a way to regulate airflow and prevent any lasting damage.