A Newark parent notices it during a quiet stretch at NewPark Mall or right before bedtime: their four-year-old’s thumb still finds its way to their mouth, and the tongue still pushes against the front teeth with every swallow. What looked like a passing infant habit is starting to look like something that might stick around.
Mission Peak Pediatric Dentistry works with Newark and Fremont families on exactly this kind of question, because habits that feel harmless at two can shift a bite by six. As part of our preventive dentistry care, we use habit-breaking appliances to gently guide teeth and jaw growth back on track before a habit leaves a lasting mark.
According to a peer-reviewed clinical review published by the National Library of Medicine, thumb sucking and pacifier use are normal in infancy, but a habit that continues well past age three is linked to a meaningfully higher chance of a shifted bite. Many of these habits actually take root during infancy and toddlerhood, which is part of why our infant and toddler dentistry visits include a look at how a child sucks, swallows, and rests their tongue.
For many Newark and Fremont families, that shift shows up gradually, in a widening gap between the front teeth or a lisp that was not there before.
A few patterns tend to show up most often in the families we see near Newark.
Any of these can be worth a conversation with our team, especially if a habit continues after a child’s fourth birthday or if you notice a change in how their teeth are lining up. Catching it early usually means simpler treatment later, so there is no need to wait until a habit feels like an emergency.
Dr. Michael Wang grew up in the Bay Area, so caring for kids in Newark and Fremont feels close to home for him. He earned a bachelor’s degree in human biology and a master’s degree in biological sciences from UC San Diego, then completed dental school at the UCSF School of Dentistry and a pediatric residency at Montefiore Medical Center’s Einstein Campus in the Bronx. That local upbringing also shapes how he talks with kids about their teeth, using words that feel familiar rather than clinical.
He became board certified by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in 2019 and speaks fluent Mandarin and Spanish, which puts many local families at ease from the first visit. Our Newark-area location page has directions and hours for families near Thornton Avenue and Cedar Boulevard, and you can learn more about Dr. Wang and the rest of our care team before your child’s first visit. Whether your family lives near Ohlone College’s Newark Center for Health Sciences or across town in Fremont, our office is a short drive away for routine visits and habit checkups alike.
A thumb-sucking or tongue-thrust habit does not mean anything is wrong with your child, and most habits fade on their own with time and encouragement. When a habit lingers past the toddler years, though, an evaluation can show whether a simple appliance might support a healthier bite while your child’s mouth is still growing and adapting. We would rather answer questions early than have you wait and wonder, so bring any concerns, however small they seem, to your child’s next cleaning.
Dr. Wang and our team bring board certification from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, residency training from Montefiore Medical Center, and a genuine fondness for Newark and Fremont families to every visit. We also welcome new patients from Newark, Fremont, and nearby communities who are simply looking for a dental home that treats kids with patience and warmth. If your child’s habit has you wondering what comes next, we would be glad to talk it through when you schedule a visit with our office.
