Thumb sucking is a child's natural reflex for seeking comfort and security soon after birth. But, while useful, appropriate, and expected, vigorous and long-term thumb-sucking may impact their dental health. Want to know how? Scroll down to learn more.
Effects of Thumb Sucking on Teeth
The typical dental problems because of thumb-sucking include teeth misalignment, structural changes in the child's mouth, and crooked permanent teeth. These problems may manifest in one or more of the following ways:
- Bite problems, for example, overbite.
- The upper jaw juts out beyond your child's face than it should
- Lower front teeth growing obliquely in your child's mouth
- An inability to bring front teeth together
- A gap between the upper and lower teeth when a child closes their mouth
- The narrowing roof of the mouth
- Lisping
- Abnormal position of the tongue
Is thumb-sucking normal?
Yes. One in three babies sucks their thumb during the first year of their life. Most children stop sucking their thumbs without intervention between the ages of two and four. Only one in 20 children may continue sucking their thumb even after 4 years.
When is thumb-sucking a problem?
Thumb-sucking may lead to dental problems when your child frequently sucks their thumb while their baby teeth are coming in. The longer and stronger thumb-sucking, the more severe its impact on dental development. Although, simply resting their thumb in their mouth won't cause any harm to your child's tooth development.
What are the dental care tips for babies who suck their thumbs?
First and foremost, monitor your child to know how frequently and forcefully they suck their thumb. If it's more than usual, consult an affordable family dentist at Bonita to help your child break this habit. However, do not be harsh on your child while you help them unlearn thumb-sucking.
Teething also makes babies suck their thumbs. It means teeth start developing, a call for starting a dental care routine. Do not wait for permanent teeth to develop to teach your child good dental care habits. The earlier, the better.
To start with, brush your child's teeth twice a day. Gradually, teach them to brush their teeth and clean their tongue on their own. However, always supervise to prevent mishaps while the child is learning to brush their teeth. Flossing is also essential as it helps clean the bacteria trapped in smaller spaces.
Once your child has primary teeth, visit a dentist regularly to monitor the dental growth and development. It also helps your child get familiar and comfortable with common dental treatments, for example, dental cleaning.
How to fix tooth damage after thumb-sucking?
Orthodontic braces may help move teeth back into place if your child has dental issues from thumb sucking. However, the benefits, as listed below, go beyond tooth alignment.
- Fixing bite issues, helping improve their speech.
- Jaw alignment
- Teeth realignment, making eating and chewing easier
- Preventing enamel wear because of misaligned teeth rubbing against each other
- Protecting against the potential development of gum disease and tooth decay
- Preventing oral health deterioration that leads to tooth loss
How do braces work to realign teeth?
Based on your child's dental health exam, the orthodontist may recommend the best-suited braces to straighten their teeth. Each braces type works for a different dental health problem. Standard braces types recommended for children are:
- Traditional braces
- Clear braces
- Lingual Braces
- Invisalign (consider for internal linking)
- Self-litigating braces
- Titanium braces
- Damon braces
- Gold-plated braces
Depending on your child's dental concerns, the period of wearing braces ranges from 1-3 years. They will need to wear retainers to maintain the results once their treatment is complete.
How to Make Your Child Stop Sucking Their Thumb?
First, weaning a child off thumb-sucking is not necessary for every child. Many children outgrow this habit without their parent's involvement. Besides, a brief period of thumb-sucking is, in fact, beneficial for children. For example, a study in Pediatrics found that children who suck their thumbs were less prone to allergic reactions later in life.
This habit is an issue when children constantly suck their thumb, especially after age 3. Pacifiers and fingers in the mouth can also cause teeth misalignment and impair the bite. In such cases, consult a dentist to help your child stop thumb-sucking. You can also try the following techniques at home.
- Identify triggers
Notice when your child begins sucking their thumb. If they do it because of stress or as a response to a particular situation, identify and address the cause.
- Establish a reward system
Encourage and appreciate your child when they try not to suck their thumb for a certain period. This way, they eventually learn to consciously work on breaking their habit.
- Provide an alternate source of comfort
As mentioned above, children suck their thumbs to feel secure and comforted. So, give them something to hold onto to for feeling calm and safe.
Remember that "earlier the better" is a good rule of thumb here. It is because it gets harder for a child to let go of thumb-sucking when they get older.
If these tips aren't effective, work with a pediatric dentist for alternatives.
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