Thumb sucking or the use of a pacifier appeals to the natural instinct for babies to suck, but it can have negative dental consequences by causing damage to their teeth and mouth if it continues past age four. Babies instinctively put everything in their mouths and suck their thumb or pacifier to calm themselves when they feel hungry, scared or tired. After six months the urge to do this begins to decrease, but if they have learned to comfort themselves with a pacifier or their thumb, this may continue long past that timeframe.

Thirty percent of children in preschool continue to suck their thumbs, which is age appropriate If your child falls into this age-bracket or younger, you probably don’t need to worry too much about any long-term effects. Children tend to naturally wean themselves of sucking their thumb at around age three, but if the habit continues past age four, the long-term dental consequences could surface and if the thumb sucking continues past age five, this could be a sign of emotional or other problems.

How Will Thumb Sucking Affect My Child’s Teeth?

Much has been written on the subject of how thumb sucking affects the developing teeth/mouth. Read the following information provided from the American Dental Association to learn a little more:

Misaligned Teeth

Thumb sucking can ruin the alignment of your child’s and the most serious permanent side effects of thumb sucking are the imperfect positioning of the teeth when the jaws are closed, otherwise known as malocclusion. Two of the most common types of malocclusion caused by thumb sucking are open bite and overbite.

Open Bite

Open Bite happens when the top and bottom front teeth become directed outward. This misalignment means that the top and bottom front teeth don’t touch, even with your child’s mouth is completely closed. This will likely require costly orthodontic treatment down the road, and the embarrassment of having teeth jut outwardly until they can be fixed.

Overbite

Overbite occurs when the upper front teeth become directed outward and the top teeth cover the bottom teeth when your child’s mouth is closed rather than the top and bottom teeth touching. An overbite can affect the shape of the face and smile and in extreme situations your child may need extensive orthodontic treatment to correct the problem. Treatment with headgear and other alternative orthodontic appliances may be needed to correct the misalignment since the overlapping teeth can prevent proper placement of traditional metal braces brackets.

Speech Impediments

Thumb sucking affects the proper development of the teeth, jaw, and palate. It can also change how your child eats and speaks, causing a lisp and the inability to pronounce hard consonant sounds. Without the correct dental care, even high-quality speech therapy may not fully correct these impediments. Distorted sounds are partially caused by the shape of your child’s teeth in relation to his or her tongue. Communication is more difficult, which can lead to frustration, anger, and feelings of isolation.

Social Stigma

Thumb sucking has negative consequences for your child’s dental development, but it can also have an impact on them socially. If your child is over four years old and still sucks their thumb, you may need the help of your dentist to break the habit.

Thumb sucking is usually a subconscious response to stress or boredom. Likely your child doesn’t think before putting his or her thumb in their mouth, and may need your support to overcome the habit. In all cases, eliminating thumb sucking should be achieved through positive reinforcement rather than punishment.

There are many approaches and ways to help your preschooler quit sucking their thumb. This list from  Web MD is pretty comprehensive and emphasizes the fact that children suck their thumb for comfort. Anything less than a kind approach will add more anxiety to your child’s life.

Pacifiers

Pacifiers can be as problematic as thumb sucking in causing dental problems, but they can be taken away, whereas the thumb is always accessible. Excessive sucking on a pacifier after the teeth have grown in can misalign your child’s teeth, jaw and palate. In addition pacifiers can lead to numerous middle-ear infections which sometimes require surgery to repair the problem. Weaning a child from a pacifier can be done with dedication on your part. You may have to find another way to offer comfort, such as a blanket or stuffed animal.

Tips for Overcoming the Pacifier-Habit

• Snip a small hole in the tip of the pacifier to render it “defective”. When the pacifier no longer satisfies the original purpose, your child may happily throw it away because it’s broken.
• Gradually reduce the times he or she can use the pacifier, such as only during naptime and bedtime, eventually ditching it altogether.
• For children old enough to understand the concept of trading one thing for another, offer gifts such as a toy or book in exchange for the pacifier.
• Set a date, such as your child’s first birthday to eliminate the Binky, and help prepare for the big event. Who knows, you might generate excitement for the change!

If you’re concerned about the dental consequences thumb sucking has on your child’s teeth, check with Dr. Shane S. Porter of Premier Dentistry of Eagle.  For some children, a visit with the dentist regarding why it’s important to stop thumb sucking is more effective than a talk with mom or dad.

To schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Porter call (208) 546-0655 or click here. Premier Dentistry of Eagle is located at 467 South Rivershore Lane in Eagle, Idaho and is easily accessible to patients in the surrounding communities of Star, Middleton, Meridian, Garden City, and Boise.

Dr. Porter and his whole team pride themselves in offering compassionate care for patients of all ages. During a check-up with your child, Dr. Porter can diagnose any problems that may exist due to thumb sucking. You can be assured that his professional approach will give the needed course of action regarding your child’s dental health, which will also soothe and comfort you as the parent.