If you’ve ever seen a baby sucking their thumb on an ultrasound, you could probably guess that this habit comes naturally to little ones. Over time, this habit becomes self-soothing. Babies and toddlers will do this when they’re stressed, scared, tired, or even hungry. This is completely normal, however there can be repercussions if this habit continues beyond the age of 6. Our trusted pediatric dentist in Los Angeles at Crystal Dental Center is skilled in guiding you and your child through breaking this habit.
Typically, around the ages of 2-4 a child will begin to break the habit of sucking their thumb on their own, but not always. Around the age of 6, permanent teeth will begin the eruption process, and once those come in, thumb sucking can lead to protrusion (pushing forward) of the front teeth. This is due to the force of the sucking in conjunction with the pushing of the tongue onto the thumb forcing the teeth outward. Once this happens, orthodontic involvement is necessary to help correct this issue.
Constant sucking can also cause:
- The child’s jaw to be narrow
- Uneven bite on each side of the mouth
- Facial distortions
- A narrow palate that can cause airway and sleep complications
- Bacteria to be introduced into the oral cavity
How Do I Safely Help My Child Break This Habit?
Habits are hard to break for people of all ages, but with persistence and positive reinforcement you can help your child break this habit once and for all! Here are some tips for you to try at home.
- Reward System: Giving your child small rewards unique to their interests that will help aid their motivation to break the habit of sucking their thumb.
- Praise: Acknowledge their growth and resistance by praising your child each time you notice that they restrain from sucking their thumb when they normally would in certain circumstances.
- Distraction: Attempt to direct their attention elsewhere by asking for their help i.e., helping put the groceries away or an activity that requires both hands, so their focus is geared somewhere else.
If your child sucks their thumb, no matter how old they are, it is in their best interest to be evaluated by the pediatric dentist in Los Angeles in order to prevent severe tooth protrusion and other oral problems. For further information or to schedule an appointment please call Crystal Dental Center at 213-748-8448 or visit www.CrystalDentalCenters.com to learn more.
