"The Thumblady"

A "Kinder-Gentler" Program for Thumb and Finger Sucking

Shari Green, C.O.M.
I.A.O.M. Certified Orofacial Myologist
Retired Dental Hygienist

 

FULLY-EQUIPPED, COMFORTABLE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT
UTILIZING ZICKEFOOSE VIDEOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE

An individual customized program for oral habit elimination including tongue-thrust, lip incompetency, nailbiting, and thumb and finger-sucking habits.

Thumb and Finger Sucking Is A Frustrating Issue!

Parents want to see their child succeed. Children know it's time to stop. They WANT to stop, but they can't. They try on their own and fail -- not because they want to fail -- it's just beyond them. Parents want to help. They try everything -- bribery, pepper, threats. Their attempts last a day at best. The frustration level rises, as oftentimes, does conflict.

"How can we do this -- it's such a BIG issue. It's overwhelming! All we need is a little help."

"There MUST be someone out there who can help!"

Help Is Out There - I Can Help!

My job is simple - provide guidance, support and proven strategies to make this celebration of thumbsucking elimination as easy, rewarding, and fun as it possibly can be! Ask your dentist, physician, or LSP about the program.


Shari and graduate, Sam, working together on a mouth exercise while Dad looks on
(photo courtesy of Pioneer Press, Todd Heisler)

Using a "kinder-gentler" program based on behavior modification, support, encouragement, and positive reinforcement, most children who are ready will overcome their thumb habit the first session.

What Are the Risks?

Over 85% of children who suck their fingers and thumbs past age 4-5 may develop speech problems, tongue thrust swallows, and have flaccid weak tongues and lips. The tongue is forced downward in the mouth by the thumb, and the lips lose muscle tone. A habit of a low rest position of the tongue results. (The tongue rests in the roof of the mouth to help mold and shape proper palatal form.) These muscle issues can all be addressed through orofacial myofunctional retraining exercises for the muscles of the lips, face, and tongue to restore proper muscular usage and patterns. I call it "physical therapy for the mouth".

CERTIFIED OROFACIAL MYOLOGISTS ARE PROFESSIONALS WHO SPECIALIZE EXCLUSIVELY IN ORAL HABIT ELIMINATION TECHNIQUES.

Why Children Suck Their Thumbs

Babies begin life with the need to suck. They must suck to survive. They associate sucking with warmth, milk, love, and tenderness. All those positive feelings make it very easy for thumbsucking to become a habit well beyond the point of necessity. Childhood thumbsucking beyond age 5 is a HABIT -- nothing more, nothing less. There comes a point in time when children truly want to stop, but often the habit has persisted for so long and is so ingrained, they cannot stop on their own.

Children Who Mouthbreathe Can Also Develop These Problems

Children with allergies, tonsil and adenoid problems, sinus and recurrent colds frequently develop problems with weak and flaccid tongue and lip muscles. When children chronically breathe through their mouths, these orofacial muscles become accustomed to being passively held in a weak, low resting position. Soon it becomes habit to hold a tongue low and lips open, and the muscles lose their tone from disuse. This habit can persist long after the nasal passage is cleared. An orofacial myofunctional imbalance and irregular muscular patterns may results.

What Exactly is Involved With Orofacial Myology for Tongue Thrust Habit?

Once the nasal area has been discussed/monitoredby their M.D., or the thumb habit is conquered, children may begin their oral muscular exercise program. They will visit my office weekly for 6-8 weeks, and then bi-monthly, and then monthly, for a total of approx. 12-15 visits. Since every child is different, time may vary.

First we work on muscle retraining, then swallow patterns, and finally, we make the new learned behavior a habit. In the process of oral myology, your child will work with a custom plan I personally design for them to aid in improving muscle tone of the lips. The results from this type of retraining are excellent. We take photos along the way to monitor all the changes that occur. This is my favorite part - it is great to see all the progress!

What To Look For If You Suspect an Orofacial Myofunctional Imbalance:

  • Habitual mouthbreathing
  • Lips apart at rest
  • Forward visible tongue during eating or rest
  • Facial smirk or grimace during swallow
  • Lower lip squeeze during swallowing
  • Golf ball appearance to chin with a swallow
  • Speech difficulties - especially n,t,d,l,s,z,r,k,and g
  • Messy eating, drooling, etc.
  • Teeth that are visible in the presence of an arched upper lip
  • A "bobbing head" at the completion of a swallow

NEVER HESITATE TO CONTACT A SPECIALIST IN THIS FIELD IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS.

 

OROFACIAL MYOLOGY...
...CARING
...HELPING
...SUCCEEDING

Comfortable Buffalo Grove, Illinois office, unique interactive audio-visual technique,"kid-friendly" environment, 30-40 minute appointment time. Sessions are NEVER hurried or rushed. I have worked with dozens of children of dentists, physicians, speech pathologists, developmental specialists. Allow me the joy of working with your child too!

Phone:Voicemail: (847) 641-4444

Fax: (847) 850-5800.

Feel free to email me with any questions at: thumblady@yahoo.com

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