Habit Counseling

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Helping Kids Break Habits for Healthier Smiles

Thumb-sucking, pacifier use, tongue thrusting, nail biting… these are all normal childhood habits. But sometimes, they stick around longer than they should and start to affect your child’s teeth, speech, or jaw development.
At Sawgrass Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Ryan offers gentle habit counseling to help kids—and parents and grandparents—navigate the process of letting go of these habits in a positive, stress-free way.
Families across Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach, and surrounding areas trust us to help protect growing smiles.

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Kindness, Patience, and Positive Reinforcement

At Sawgrass Pediatric Dentistry, habit counseling is never about shaming or scolding. Instead, Dr. Ryan uses:

Friendly conversations to help kids understand how habits affect their teeth
Encouragement and praise for small successes
Practical tools and techniques tailored to your child’s personality and age
Support and guidance for parents and grandparents

Breaking a habit takes time and teamwork. We’re here every step of the way.

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How We Help Kids Break Habits

Every child is different—and so is every habit. Dr. Ryan may recommend:

Positive reinforcement charts and small rewards
Visual aids to help kids understand how habits affect teeth
Gentle reminders or substitute behaviors
Special oral appliances for older kids, if needed

Our goal is always the same: to help your child let go of habits gently and confidently.

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Everything You Need to Know

Frequently Asked Questions

Habit counseling helps children gently break habits like thumb-sucking or nail biting that may affect their dental and jaw development.
If habits like pacifier use, thumb-sucking, or tongue thrusting continue beyond toddler years, they may impact teeth, speech, or jaw growth.
We help with thumb-sucking, pacifier use, lip or cheek biting, tongue thrusting, and nail biting.
Not at all—Dr. Ryan uses gentle conversations, encouragement, and kid-friendly tools to make the process positive and supportive.
No. We never use shame or fear—our approach is based on kindness, patience, and understanding.
That’s okay. We work at your child’s pace, using visuals, praise, and fun techniques to build motivation and confidence.
Absolutely. We provide tips, tools, and guidance to help parents and grandparents support their child at home.
No, they're only recommended for older children if other gentle methods haven’t worked.