Article at a Glance
- Sucking on a pacifier, thumb, or finger is a way for children to self-soothe, but it can cause some problems with their teeth.
- Aggressive thumb suckers and kids who continue sucking their thumbs after their permanent teeth have come in can end up with problems ranging from misalignment to changes in the roof of the mouth.
- Children usually stop thumb sucking on their own, but they may need some help from you by way of encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- If you’re not having luck getting your child to stop thumb sucking, get creative or seek help from your dentist.
Thumb sucking is often a reflex for babies and toddlers. A thumb, finger, or pacifier provides a method of self-soothing and helps a young child cope with discomfort or new, uncomfortable experiences. In short, it’s a normal part of development. Still, many parents wonder if the old myths about the effects of thumb sucking are true.
How Thumb Sucking Can Affect Your Child’s Teeth
If your child is hooked on sucking their thumb or a pacifier, you may have concerns about thumb sucking teeth or pacifier teeth. Thumb sucking could have an effect on the alignment of baby teeth if your child is more aggressive about it. If your child continues thumb sucking after permanent teeth have broken through, they may have alignment issues that will need to be corrected down the line. Prolonged and/or aggressive thumb sucking can alter the roof of the mouth.
When Should I Worry About My Child’s Thumb Sucking?
As a parent, you don’t want your child’s thumb sucking to become a problem. How do you know when it’s time to intervene? Before taking a stand to stop thumb sucking, assess the situation. Consider how your child uses thumb sucking.
- Is it restricted to bedtime and stressful situations or an all-day, every day habit?
- How old is your child?
- Does your child have baby teeth? Are they cutting any permanent teeth?
- Does your child rest the thumb in their mouth or are they vigorously sucking to the point of producing a popping sound?
How to Stop Your Child from Thumb Sucking
Children usually stop finger sucking on their own between ages two and four depending on when they start cutting their permanent teeth. Some kids may need a little more help than others to actually quit. As a parent, there are a few steps you can take to encourage your kiddo to stop.
- For young children, praise is a stronger motivator than criticism. When you notice your child is not sucking their thumb, acknowledge it because some positive reinforcement goes a long way.
- Thumb sucking is often a method of self-soothing for children. Pay attention to when your child resorts to thumb sucking to find the reason behind the behavior. If you can offer comfort in the face of anxiety, you may be able to stop the thumb sucking once and for all.
- Peer pressure from friends or preschool peers can have a huge impact on helping your kid stop sucking their thumb.
- Get creative. Use your child’s favorite characters as examples and encourage them to be more like the characters by stopping the thumb sucking.
- Consult your dentist for help in encouragement and education about the effect of thumb sucking on teeth.
- Try covering the thumb or entire hand overnight to discourage thumb sucking but it may cause more anxiety for your child.
- As a last resort, your dentist or pediatrician may provide a mouth appliance to deter thumb sucking. Some people use a bitter medication to coat the thumb, but again, this may make the situation worse.
When to Take Your Child to a Pediatric Dentist
Thumb sucking is a normal part of development for young children. As a parent, it can be difficult to know when it’s time for your kiddo so stop thumb sucking. If you’re really not sure whether or not it’s become a problem, contact your pediatric dentist for a check-up.
Children should see a dentist for the first time between 6 months and one year of age. If you haven’t taken your child to a dentist or it’s time for a check-up and teeth cleaning, make an appointment at the Jefferson Dental Care Clinic near you.
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