Thumb or finger sucking is a very common habit, and babies have a natural sucking reflex where they can put their thumb or finger into their mouth, even before birth. Thumb or finger sucking is normal and is a habit that can make babies feel secure, and they can use it to self-soothe or when they want to go to sleep. Although thumb sucking is common amongst young children, most stop this habit naturally between ages two and four. However, some revert to this behaviour when they feel stressed or anxious.
Usually, thumb sucking isn’t a problem unless the habit continues when a child’s permanent teeth start to come through. At this stage, there is the risk that the habit could affect the development of the roof of the child’s mouth and teeth alignment. The degree of risk depends on how often your child sucks their thumb and the intensity. Some experts recommend addressing thumb-sucking habits around age 3, but others feel that treatment isn’t necessary until a child is around age 5.
What Happens When a Child Sucks Their Thumb Too Long?
The problem with prolonged thumb sucking in Whitby that continues into early childhood is that it can pull the upper front teeth outwards and elongate and narrow the upper jaw. Consequently, there may be too little room for the adult teeth to erupt normally, and they can erupt in the jaw out of alignment. If this has already happened, there are ways to address the problem using early orthodontic treatment to help guide the growth of the upper jaw, creating enough room for the upper teeth to develop properly.
Breaking the Habit
If your child does suck their thumb, we can assess the impact on their dental health during regular checkups here at Margolian Dentistry. If necessary, our Oshawa dentist will talk to you about ways to encourage your child to stop. Persuading them to stop thumb sucking is more likely to succeed if your child wants to quit the habit. Sometimes children use thumb sucking to get attention, and ignoring the habit is enough to stop this behaviour. Otherwise, there are various techniques you can try to break the habit.
Identifying the Reasons for Thumb Sucking
It can help identify the times when your child is more likely to suck their thumb and help them avoid these triggers. You can make sure they can get comfort in other ways, such as knowing they can come to you for a hug or reassurance or giving them their favourite stuffie to cuddle.
Positive Reinforcement
Talk with your child about setting up attainable goals, such as not thumb-sucking for an hour before bedtime. Whenever your child manages not to suck their thumb, praise them and offer a small reward such as a favourite bedtime story. You can also set up a more formal reward system using stickers on a calendar for every day your child manages not to suck their thumb. Whenever your child forgets and sucks their thumb, just remind them gently to stop.
Dental Appliances to Prevent Thumb Sucking
If your child is finding it tricky to stop thumb sucking, there are dental appliances available to help. Our Ajax dentist can discuss these in more detail during a checkup. One such appliance is the palatal crib that fits over the upper palate and prevents the thumb from being placed behind the teeth, effectively breaking the habit. Other approaches involve using a sock to cover their hand at night or painting their fingernails with a bitter-tasting liquid to remind them.
