How Thumb Sucking Damages Oral Health

Thumb sucking is very common in young kids. It’s a natural reflex that provides comfort and makes them feel secure and happy. 

In infants and young toddlers, thumb sucking is not considered to be harmful. But as kids grow older and their adult teeth start to emerge, thumb sucking can be associated with a misaligned bite and affect the growth of the palate. In this blog from Sycamore Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we’ll take a look at how thumb-sucking damages oral health and discuss how you can help your child stop sucking their thumb.

Why Is Thumb Sucking Only Harmful For Older Kids?

It comes down to the eruption of your child’s adult teeth. Thumb sucking does not really have much of an effect on your child’s baby (primary) teeth. The first baby teeth usually come in by the time your child is one year old, and they will all have emerged around the age of three.

But as your child continues to grow and their jaw and adult teeth begin to develop, thumb sucking can cause problems. Thumb sucking places unnatural pressure on the teeth and jaws. This can cause crooked teeth, overbites, open bites, and changes in how their mouth is shaped, among other problems.

Most Kids Stop Thumb Sucking Between The Ages Of 2-4

If you’re worried about how to get your child to stop sucking their thumb, we’ve got some good news. According to the American Dental Association, most kids stop thumb-sucking spontaneously between the ages of two and four years. In the U.S. about 30% of children suck their thumb at 1 year of age, but only about 12% of kids suck their thumbs after the age of four.

The amount of harm done by thumb sucking also depends on how often, how vigorously, and for how long your child sucks their thumb. If they just rest their thumb in their mouth, this will not likely have any major effects. But if they suck their thumb forcefully and often, they could have a higher risk of oral health issues caused by thumb sucking. ‍

Strategies For Reducing And Eliminating Thumb Sucking

If your child is four or five and still sucking their thumb regularly, you may be wondering how to reduce or stop thumb sucking. Every child and every situation is different, but here are some ideas that may be helpful:

• Use positive reinforcement – Don’t punish your child when they suck their thumb. Instead, reward them or praise them when they have a good day and don’t suck their thumb. A sticker chart may help with this. Positive feedback is always more effective than negative reinforcement.
  
  
• Find another way to soothe them – Kids often suck their thumbs for comfort. So look for other ways to soothe your child. Give them a favorite toy, blanket, or stuffed animal, or think of other ways to help them when they feel stressed or uncomfortable.

• Aversion Therapy – Something as simple as a bandaid on the thumb may help deter a child from sucking. Other solutions available include bitter-tasting nail polish and soft plastic splints. These types of therapies are not for every child, but can be useful in helping break the habit. 

• Involve your child in the solution – In order for any of these methods to be effective, your child has to want to stop, so involve them in helping choose the method of cessation.

• Work with your dentist or pediatrician – If your child still sucks their thumb around the age of 4-5, working with your dentist and your pediatrician is the best way to help them break the habit permanently. 

Need Help With Thumb Sucking? Come To Sycamore Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Tinton Falls

If you need help with your child’s thumb-sucking habit in Tinton Falls, NJ, Dr. Britni Kearns and the team at Sycamore Smiles Pediatric Dentistry are here to help. As a board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Kearns can help your child maintain a healthy smile and break the habit of sucking their thumb. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment, you can give us a call at (732) 963-8680 or contact us online to get started.