TWB Speech Language Pathology Services, Inc

08/24/2026

PACIFIERS: Do they really do structural damage?

Pacifiers can be wonderful tools for soothing infants—and they can have benefits during the early months of life. ❤️

But prolonged pacifier use can affect developing mouth, teeth, palate and orofacial muscles.

With continued use, children may be at increased risk for:

👄 Anterior open bite – the front teeth don’t come together and actually form around the shape of the pacifier
🦷 Posterior crossbite – the upper and lower back teeth don’t align properly causing chewing problems
👄 Changes in the shape and width of the upper dental arch causing narrowing of the jaw and a high vaulted palate
🗣️ Changes in the developing oral-motor environment which may lead to speech disorders

‼️One important point to note: It’s not simply how often a child uses a pacifier—it’s also how long the habit continues.

🦷 The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry notes that prolonged pacifier use beyond about 18 months potentially negatively influences the developing orofacial complex.

👄 As SLPs, we look beyond speech sounds. We consider the whole orofacial system—including resting posture, tongue position, lip closure, chewing, swallowing and oral habits.

💡 Parents don’t need to feel guilty about pacifier use. The goal is education, gradual weaning when appropriate, and collaboration with your child’s pediatrician, pediatric dentist, SLP and other professionals when needed.

If you’re wondering whether your child’s pacifier use may be affecting their oral development, talk with your pediatric dentist and/or SLP.

❤️ Early awareness can make a difference!

Educational information only; this post is not intended to replace individualized medical or dental advice.

06/23/2026

This! This is so true! Somewhere along the way, we have lost sight of typical development. It’s important to always keep in mind that sometimes, that’s what we are seeing!

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that we seem to be getting less comfortable with normal childhood.

A four-year-old who is constantly moving isn’t necessarily deficient in something and doesn’t always have an attention deficit. They may simply be four.

A toddler who wakes at night doesn’t always have an ear infection. Sometimes toddlers wake up because they’re growing, teething, dreaming, learning, or just being toddlers.

A three-year-old who has a meltdown because their cracker broke isn’t showing signs of a disorder. They’re showing signs of being three.

Part of the challenge is that today’s parents are being bombarded with information.

Open social media and you’ll quickly find someone explaining that your child’s behavior is caused by a magnesium deficiency, a sensory disorder, food dyes, low dopamine, poor gut health, or a dozen other things. Often, right next to that advice is a supplement, course, program, or product being sold as the solution.

The message parents receive over and over is this:

If your child is struggling, there must be a reason.
If there’s a reason, there must be a diagnosis.
If there’s a diagnosis, there must be a treatment.

But childhood isn’t that simple.

Not every behavior is a symptom.

Not every challenge is a disorder.

Not every difficult phase requires a supplement, medication, test, or diagnosis.

Sometimes an active child is simply active.

Sometimes an emotional child is simply emotional.

Sometimes a child who struggles with self-control is still developing the skills that self-control requires.

As parents, it’s natural to look for answers. We all want to help our children thrive. But sometimes the most reassuring answer is also the simplest:

Your child is being a child.

Childhood is messy. It’s loud. It’s inconvenient. It’s exhausting at times.

But those things don’t automatically mean something is wrong.

As a pediatric provider, one of the most important things I can tell parents is this:

Kids are supposed to act like kids.

Our job isn’t always to fix every behavior. Sometimes it’s to guide, teach, set boundaries, be patient, and allow children the time and space to grow into who they’re becoming.

Not every challenge is a problem to solve.

Sometimes it’s simply a season of childhood to walk through.

05/29/2026

This is my life!!

Coaching With Brooke ❤️

05/16/2026

Learning so much at the SOS Approach to Feeding workshop in Boston this week! Can’t wait to get back to Maine and start implementing our new skills!

05/01/2026

🧠🗣️🧩🧸📚🍽️🍼

May is here and that means it is officially Speech, Language and Hearing Month!

Here at TWB, we are so grateful for the opportunity to work with all of our clients, patients, and students and we strive to make a lasting impact on their lives.

Over the next month we will be sharing educational materials regarding all things speech, language, cognition, swallowing, and development!

In honor of Speech Month, we asked each other to describe our staff with a few words. Spread some love and share what YOU love about our team!

💙

11/27/2025

The staff at TWB Speech is grateful for our patients and their families. We wish each of you a healthy and happy holiday season. We appreciate the opportunity to spend time with each of you. Happy Thanksgiving!