Thumb sucking can become a habit in babies and children who use it to comfort themselves when they feel hungry, afraid, restless, quiet, sleepy or bored. As the child develop the habit, it will usually develop a “favourite” finger to suck on. Thumb sucking generally stop by age of 4years, some older children will retain the habit, which can cause severe dental problems.
Vigorous thumb sucking can have many effect on the teeth & mouth. It may cause any of the following :-
- Overbite, where the front teeth protrude out from the jaw and mouth.
- Other bite issue, such as bottom teeth tipping inward toward the back the mouth.
- Open bite, where the top and bottom teeth don’t meet when the mouth is closed.
- Changes shape of the jaw, which can also affect the alignment of the teeth and speech patterns, such as the development of a lisp.
- Sensitivity if the root of the mouth.
How to help your child stop sucking their thumb?
- Use positive reinforcement and keep them on track with gentle reminders.
- Use thumb shield
- Try an orthodontic device
- Ask your child’s dentist for help
Your child’s dentist can talk to them about their thumb sucking, letting them know of the type of damage that they may be doing.In Smileway Dental Clinic USJ and Smileway Dental Clinic Setapak we take care of your smile because we believe in “Creating Smiles That Matters” in your life. Take care everyone. To know more, do not hesitate to contact us and get an appointment for a consultation.
