Does your child suck on their thumb? Although this habit is very common in youngsters, you may begin to worry that your child’s oral health is at risk. After all, won’t thumb-sucking result in open bites, misaligned teeth, and the like?
Yes and no. Up to a certain point (around two or three years of age) it’s normal. Beyond that age though, it can begin to take a toll on your child’s oral health. To learn more about why it’s a damaging habit, tips for breaking it, and how their dentist can help, read on.
Why Is Thumb-Sucking Damaging?
Thumb-sucking has some positive benefits for your little one, like helping them self-soothe when they feel stressed. If it becomes a long-term habit, however, then the cons can outweigh the pros. To begin, prolonged thumb-sucking can negatively impact the development of your child’s teeth, causing their upper and lower teeth not to come together evenly. Commonly referred to as an open bite, this malocclusion can make it difficult for your child to chew properly and enunciate clearly. With enough time, it can take a toll on your child’s self-esteem as well. For these reasons, it’s of the utmost importance that you do your best to break the habit.
3 Tips for Breaking the Thumb-Sucking Habit
Since thumb-sucking is often a response to feeling anxious or overwhelmed, you want to approach your child with nothing but compassion and patience. For actionable tips, try:
- Bringing it to their attention – A long-term habit, your child may not even realize when they are sucking their thumb. So, try kindly bringing it to their attention and encouraging them to stop.
- Offering a substitute – Although they aren’t pleasant emotions, feeling nervous or scared at times is normal and unavoidable. When your child feels the need to suck their thumb, offer an alternative, like a soft blanket.
- Praising progress – Even baby steps are steps in the right direction, so don’t hesitate to celebrate even the small victories!
How Are Misaligned Teeth and Uneven Bites Corrected?
If your child does develop misaligned teeth or an uneven bite due to thumb-sucking, don’t worry – there is a way to restore their smile, bite, and speech. During their biannual checkups and cleanings, their pediatric dentist will monitor the development of their jaw and the condition of their oral health. Around the age of seven or eight, they may recommend orthodontic treatment, like traditional braces. With a skilled orthodontist overseeing their progress, your child’s alignment and bite will gradually improve over the course of 6-12 months!
About the Practice
At Simply Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we have a pediatric dentist and an orthodontist. So, you don’t have to drive all around town for your child’s dental needs. More importantly, perhaps, your little one doesn’t have to meet a whole new team if they need braces – we’ll be familiar and friendly faces at that point! If you have a question about thumb-sucking or would like to see if your child is a candidate for braces, then don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our team via our website or by phone at (978) 612-6222.