Thumb sucking is instinctual in babies. It helps soothe and relax them, reduce anxiety, and provide a feeling of security. Children may perform suction motions more frequently when they are hungry but the instinct to suck on their thumb is separate from feeding.
It helps them relieve boredom, put them at ease, and cope with emotional disturbances. However, if it continues for too long, it can have more consequences than benefits. Read on to find out what issues can arise from prolonged thumb sucking, when it should stop, and how you can wean your child off this behavior.
While thumb sucking may be an instinct, it doesn’t mean that it should continue forever. While thumb sucking in the first few years of life is normal, you should be aware of the consequences it can have on your child’s oral health if it continues for too long.
Passive thumb sucking, where the child holds their thumb in their mouth, is less prone to causing serious problems. However, vigorous and aggressive thumb sucking can cause changes to their bite and the roof of their mouth.
This may lead to your child developing an improper bite, misaligned teeth, a speech impediment, sensitivity in the roof of the mouth, skin problems, and it’s also unsanitary.
Most children naturally stop sucking their thumbs between the ages of 2-4. However, you may want to wean them off of this behavior sooner, especially if they’re vigorous thumb suckers. Your child is at the highest risk of developing oral health issues if the behavior continues until the permanent teeth come in.
However, problems can occur before then, which is why it is encouraged to stop the behavior by age 4. Ideally, you would want to wean them off by their first birthday but it can be a difficult habit to break for your child if they use it as a way to soothe themselves.
The more negative comments your child receives from you and others regarding their thumb sucking, the more likely the behavior is to continue. If this happens, it may be better to avoid discussing it.
You shouldn’t shame or criticize your child for sucking their thumb. You will be most successful in stopping the behavior if they also want to stop. If they are old enough, try having a conversation with them or giving them gentle reminders when they forget.
There are thumb shields that can be placed over your child’s thumb to remind them they shouldn’t suck. If they are younger, you can reward them when they refrain from thumb sucking. You should identify what triggers thumb sucking. Do you notice it occurs most often when they are stressed or hungry?
You can make sure they’ve been fed or offer other ways to comfort them. If you’re still having trouble weaning them off of thumb sucking, you should seek the help of a dentist. Your child may need an oral appliance that prevents them from sucking their thumb.
If your child has been sucking their thumb for many years and has developed orthodontic issues, you should take them in for an orthodontic screening. We encourage you to do this early on, even before they receive their permanent teeth.
This is because changes may occur to the roof of the mouth otherwise know as their palate. They may need early orthodontic treatment to prevent or lessen the severity of the need for braces in the future.
If you’re concerned that your child’s thumb-sucking habit could be impacting their tooth or bite alignment, you should come in for a consultation so we can screen for potential orthodontic problems. Contact us at Thrive Kids Dentistry today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Christie.
