Pediatric Dentistry

Thumb Sucking

Your dentist can help.

For babies and young children, thumb sucking is a natural reflex. It is the manifestation of the suckling reflex that all babies need to survive. Thumb sucking gives them a sense of security and helps them fall asleep. However, when teeth begin to develop, thumb sucking or sucking on a pacifier can lead to dental problems.

Children who vigorously suck their thumbs as well as suck their thumbs as an older child are more likely to develop dental problems than children who suck their thumbs more passively and stop the thumb sucking at an earlier age. Vigorous and or prolonged thumb sucking can cause a child's baby teeth to shift. The correct alignment of a child's permanent teeth and proper growth of their mouth can be inhibited by persistent thumb sucking especially after the first few years of the baby's life.

Children should not suck their thumbs or use pacifiers when their permanent teeth are coming in. Most children will naturally stop thumb sucking between the ages of two and four as they become more interested in their surroundings. But if a child persists in thumb sucking, a dentist, pediatric dentist or orthodontist can help. The sooner the treatment is started to eliminate the thumb sucking habit the more likely it is that the baby's oral development will be normal and the less likely it is that the baby will need more invasive treatment later on to correct a malformation of the dentition (the teeth) or the oral cavity (the mouth and extended structures) itself. These conditions could require rapid palatal expanders, repositioning of the jawbones themselves by a variety of oral surgical treatments and repositioning of the teeth by orthodontics, which might include the placement of an implant that can be used as an anchor so the teeth can be moved into their proper position. Early diagnoses and proper treatment planning can avoid some of these more invasive treatments but that can only happen if you bring your baby for early dental visits.

A couple of tips...

Most children use thumb sucking as a means of comfort, parents can try to identify and then remove the cause of anxiety. Parents have also had success using praise and rewards to encourage their child to stop thumb sucking. Additionally, alternative means of pacification may help such as a night-light, a special stuffed toy or blanket. These things can give the child a sense of security and comfort without detrimentally affecting their oral health. When these actions don't get the child to stop sucking their thumb early treatment may be aversion therapy. The child's thumb can be soaked in a pepper containing solution or some other unpleasant tasting food to get the child to stop their thumb sucking habit. Other treatments may include fabricating an oral guard that physically prevents the child from placing their thumb in their mouth or a covering for the thumb that also prevents the child from being able to place their thumb in their mouth.

Be aware of your child's habits and become proactive rather than remaining passive. Before you notice changes in your child's teeth due to thumb sucking or due to any other reason, talk to Dr. Preziosi. Don't delay because the consequences of waiting will only mean more extensive and expensive treatment later. Prevention and early intervention are the best solutions to any health problems or concerns.