Thumb sucking is a natural reflex for children. Sucking on thumbs, fingers, pacifiers or other objects may make babies feel secure and happy and help them learn about their world.
Young children may also suck to soothe themselves and help them fall asleep.
How does this affect your child’s teeth?
After permanent teeth come in, sucking may cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth. It can also cause changes in the roof of the mouth.
Pacifiers can affect the teeth the same ways as sucking fingers and thumbs, but it is often an easier habit to break.
The intensity of the sucking is a factor that determines whether or not dental problems may arise. If children rest their thumbs passively in their mouths, they are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs. Some aggressive thumb suckers may develop problems with their baby (primary) teeth.
What age is normal for my child to stop?
Children usually stop sucking between the ages of two and four years old, or by the time the permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. However, when the finger habit persists beyond the toddler years and into the adolescent years, there can be significant effects on the teeth, gums, jaws, and sometimes even facial form.
Prolonged thumb-sucking turns into a habit that can cause a dental and sometimes a skeletal open bite. If the habit ceases while the child is still growing, the dental open bite can self-correct, but sometimes the help of a dentist or an orthodontist is required to correct the position of the teeth and align the jaws. Frequently, after the sucking stops, the child may have developed a tongue-thrusting habit while eating, speaking, and swallowing. This tongue-thrusting then perpetuates the deleterious force on the dentition and jaws. If the open bite is not corrected while the child is growing, then jaw surgery may be required to correct the bite in later years.
If you notice changes in your child’s primary teeth or are concerned about your child’s thumb-sucking please contact us. It is important to note that this is a collaborative effort by the dental professional, parent, and patient in order to break the habit and prevent some of the ill effects and eventual jaw surgery. NW Calgary Sedation Dentistry helps in protecting your children’s teeth.
What can parents do to help reduce or stop the habit?
- Praise your child for not sucking.
- Children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure or needing comfort. Focus on correcting the cause of the anxiety and provide comfort to your child.
- For an older child, involve him or her in choosing the method of stopping.
- Your dentist can offer encouragement to your child and explain what could happen to their teeth if they do not stop sucking.
If these tips don’t work, remind the child of their habit by bandaging the thumb. There are also options for a bitter medication to coat the thumb or the use of a mouth appliance.
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