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