How Thumb Sucking Can Harm Your Teeth

Thumb-sucking is a practice that is common among primates, including chimpanzees, humans, and other species. Even while thumb-sucking usually becomes a habit in early toddlers as a calming technique, sleep aid, or entertainment when they become bored, it substantially decreases after six months. Thumb-sucking is not dangerous when children are tiny, but it can do more damage to their dental health as they age.

How Does Thumb Sucking Affect Oral Health?

Children begin losing their teeth at age 5 or 6. Young children should not be allowed to suck their thumbs since it can cause serious harm. Teeth may shift out of position due to the thumb-sucking-induced overbite. If a child stops sucking their thumb, the habit typically stops, but if it continues, the child could need orthodontic treatment. If the habit is severe enough, it can change a child’s jaw structure and require surgery if left untreated. After giving up thumb-sucking, kids typically start tongue-thrusting, which keeps the jaw and teeth out of alignment. Dental problems that thumb feeders frequently experience include:

• Your child’s upper jaw is sticking out from their face more than it should be.
• Overbites occur when the top front teeth stick out and upward.
• Your child’s lower front teeth are not straight in the jaw and have an inward slant.
• During chewing, the upper and lower teeth should touch one another.
• an inability to bite with the front teeth together
• The roof of the mouth is shrinking and rising more swiftly.
• creation of a lisp
• Your child’s tongue is incorrectly positioned in their mouth.

Thumb sucking may also affect how the palate on the roof of the mouth develops. Numerous problems may follow, including structural irregularities, difficulty eating correctly, and tonsil collapse resulting in snoring. Thumb sucking might make talking difficult due to palate enlargement and dental misalignment. It is vital to take care of baby teeth to prevent tooth decay. When your child’s permanent teeth erupt, encourage proper dental hygiene. If your child’s permanent teeth are damaged, expensive dental procedures may be necessary to repair them. If the damage is too significant, permanent teeth must be removed.‌

Positive reinforcement is usually more effective than negative reinforcement. Therefore, rewarding desired behavior more often than punishing it is a good strategy. Create a system of rewards with your child to encourage them to quit sucking their thumbs. Alternative methods include covering the thumb with bandages, and some experts have suggested using specific types of nail polish to discourage thumb sucking. Before night, put socks on the hands to stop your child from sucking their thumbs. Ensure your child is aware of the harmful effects of thumb-sucking to persuade them to quit. Eventually, getting an orthodontic “fence” may be necessary to stop tongue thrusting and thumb sucking.

Your child can stop sucking their thumb with help from Massih Orthodontics.

If you want to learn what thumbsucking can do to your child’s teeth, schedule a consultation at Massih Orthodontics. Talking to their parents may only sometimes be as effective for children as hearing the dentist explain the benefits of giving up thumbsucking. To arrange a consultation with Dr. Massih, dial (818) 507-1515!