Thumb Sucking & the Effects on Your Teeth

Thumb sucking is a popular behaviour in children. The majority of infants and toddlers automatically suck a thumb or finger to calm themselves down, handle stress or to sleep. This habit is usually harmless and this is more of a natural reflex habit that usually starts prior to birth and extends to infancy. Rarely do many children continue up to the age of two with the act being abandoned between the ages of two and four because other means of self-comfort are discovered.

Will Thumb Sucking Have an Impact on Your Teeth?

Thumb sucking may also lead to an impact on your child’s teeth, that is, when the habit still goes on even at an age at which baby teeth are being replaced by permanent ones. The reason is that the force applied by the thumb on the teeth and further bone structures can cause changes in the direction of teeth development, as well as jaw formation.

Thumb sucking does not always cause anything bad to happen and light, passive sucking may not cause much. However, when a child suckles intensively, regularly and prolonged at a time, then problems of the teeth are likely to develop.

At what Age Would Thumb Sucking Lead to a Dental Issue?

There is no set-in-stone age that thumb sucking can turn into a dangerous habit; however, it is quite clear that the habit after the age of four or five years can put a person at a great risk of developing dental issues. Many parents planning for future orthodontic care often wonder How Much Does Invisalign Cost? before making decisions. The general recommendation in American Dental and pediatric dentistry research is the need to deal with the habit at the preschool age before permanent teeth grow to reduce possible complications.

The more time it is maintained, the higher the suction pressure, the higher the chances of permanent consequences on the dental arrangement and the development of the jaw.

What Do Your Teeth Do When You Suck Your Thumb?

The particular influences of thumb sucking are based on the position the baby makes in the mouth, frequency of suckling, and the depth of the habit. In the long run, especially in the case of chronicity, several bite problems can arise, such as:

Anterior Open Bite – There is a space that exists between the upper and lower teeth that is located in the front of the mouth. This is because the thumb separates the front teeth.

Excessive Overjet – The upper front teeth stick out well in front of the lower teeth and can be referred to as the buck teeth.

Posterior Crossbite – In this case, the upper teeth bite the lower teeth on the inside rather than on the outside meaning it is not aligned.

These developments may influence your child in terms of biting, chewing and even speaking.

Breaking a Thumb Sucking Habit.

The process of quitting the habit should be done positively. Children best succeed when they desire to make themselves. Parents need not punish or shame over thumb sucking as this may deteriorate the habit or lead to emotional pressures.

Instead, it is best to use positive encouragement and age-related explanations regarding the reasons why it is better to stop and why it is better to continue to do it to make them smile and their comfortable. They can be reward systems, soft reminders, and other coping devices (such as a favourite toy at bedtime) once the child is willing to change.