Thumb sucking is a normal behavior in infants and young children and may extend to fingers, pacifiers, and in the particularly agile, even toes. Thumb sucking is often calming for infants and often aids them in going to sleep. However, when the habit of thumb sucking lasts beyond the eruption of permanent teeth, it often contributed to problems in both the proper growth of the mouth and the alignment of the teeth.
One of the dental problems that thumb sucking can cause include an anterior open bite. This problem occurs when the front teeth are unable to properly touch upon closure of the mouth. This gap left between the teeth provides no stop for the tongue, which will then naturally thrust forward in the open space. Beyond dental misalignment problems, an open bite may also cause speech problems.
By the age of 2, a little over half of children no longer suck their thumbs or require a pacifier. By the age of 4, 90% of children have stopped. Parents whose children continue to thumb suck beyond the age of 3 should ensure this habit is addressed with their pediatric dentist. There are many remedies to thumb sucking which include behavioral modification and in more aggressive cases, specialized appliances that help prevent the habit altogether.
Preventing thumb sucking from continuing at an early age may help prevent further dental problems down the road, which would likely need to be fixed through the use of orthodontics.
As a parent, there are several things you can do to help prevent your child from continuing their thumb sucking habit beyond the age of 3. Those include:
– positive reinforcement by rewarding your child for not thumb sucking
– alleviating the source of the anxiety that causes the thumb sucking
– explaining the undesirable effects of continued thumb sucking to your child
– remaining positive and optimistic that your child will grow out of this habit (encouragement)
With encouragement and proper guidance with your pediatric dentist, your child will hopefully nip their thumb sucking habit in the bid and avoid further potential dental problems down the road.
