Many babies develop the habit of sucking on a pacifier, their thumb or their fingers. While most children grow out of the habit between ages two and four, some children continue later into childhood. If thumb or finger sucking continues, it can have a negative impact on the child’s teeth and jaws.
Children suck their thumbs or fingers to self-soothe, so it’s very common at bedtime or during stressful events. If you are a parent or guardian, there is no need to be overly concerned with this very normal childhood habit. Most children who suck their thumbs do not experience any problems related to it. However, the longer this habit continues, the greater the impact it can have on the shape and placement of their baby teeth and sometimes even their permanent teeth.
Prolonged thumb sucking can cause:
- An overbite or open bite
- Changes to tooth alignment or affect how permanent teeth grow in
- Problems in the jaw especially with the top and bottom teeth meeting
- Injury to the roof of the mouth, if the child is very forceful when sucking their thumb
There are a few things you can do to help your child stop sucking their thumb, if needed:
- Try to replace thumb sucking with another form of comfort like a toy, stuffed animal or blanket.
- Offer small rewards as motivation for avoiding it – it can be small prizes or even a special activity.
- Remember to encourage rather than reprimand your child. Praise your child for limiting the behavior, and try not to scold them.
- Do not demand they stop, and be understanding if they fall back on it when emotional or distressed.
More extreme options such as thumb guards, mouth appliances and bad-tasting nail polish are available if necessary. Consult your child’s dentist or healthcare provider before moving forward with any of these treatments.
Remember, in most circumstances, thumb-sucking is a normal part of self-soothing and should eventually go away on its own. As always, you should speak to your child’s dentist or healthcare provider with questions about your child’s unique habits and needs.
This information in this post is for general educational purposes only and does not warrant or represent any information as related to health as specifically appropriate for you. It is not intended to be medical advice or replace the relationship that you have with your health care providers. You should always seek medical advice on any diagnosis or treatment from a qualified health care provider. The information is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.
