Children have a natural tendency to thumbsuck. Sucking on thumbs, fingers, pacifiers, or other things makes babies feel safe and content and may encourage them to learn and explore their surroundings. In order to relax and fall asleep, young toddlers may also suck their thumb.
What effects may thumbsucking have on my child’s teeth?
After the permanent teeth erupt, thumbsucking can lead to issues with the mouth’s healthy development and tooth alignment. Additionally, it could alter the roof of the mouth.
Although it is a simpler habit to break, pacifiers can have the same effect on teeth as sucking fingers and thumbs.
One element that influences the likelihood of tooth issues is the force of the sucking. Children are less likely to struggle than those who suck their thumbs furiously if they passively rest them in their lips. Primary (baby) tooth issues might arise in certain aggressive thumb-suckers.
Children Stop Sucking Their Thumbs at What Age?
By the time their permanent front teeth are ready to emerge, which may happen between the ages of two and four, children often quit sucking. See your dentist if you observe any changes in your child’s primary teeth or if you have concerns about thumbsucking.
What Are Some Ways to Help My Child Quit Thumbsucking?
- Your youngster deserves praise for not sucking their thumb.
- Give your child comfort and concentrate on addressing the source of their concern. When a child needs reassurance or feels uncertain, they frequently suck their thumbs.
- Your youngster can learn from your dentist what can happen to their teeth if they continue to suck. Communicate consistently with your kid since they may have various levels of confidence in information from you, your dentist, or other reliable people.
“Using a pacifier and thumbsucking,” Mouth Healthy. Thumbsucking: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/