What Dentists Want You To Know About Thumb-Sucking

Snuggly blankets, cuddles and a good suck of the thumb were childhood comforts for many of us. And while many of us managed to nip the third one in the bud – some little ones find it a hard habit to give up. As a parent you may be wondering when’s best to encourage them to give up the thumb, how to go about it and how it could be impacting their teeth. 

Pour a cuppa (how comforts change) and take a read. Here is everything us dentists at LoveTeeth want you to know about thumb-sucking. 

Why Do Little Ones Suck Their Thumb? 

We all have ways of embracing a little calm – as babies it can be as simple as sucking our thumb. It satisfies natural reflexes and quickly becomes a familiar habit to turn to when upset or falling asleep. While most little ones stop before six months, some carry on sucking their thumb till the age of four and beyond. On the plus side all that thumb-sucking can be doing some good. The exposure to potential bacteria is a vaccine-free immune booster. However, understanding how it impacts teeth and taking steps to ensure healthy development helps protect their long-term smile. 

How Does It Affect Teeth?

Weirdly enough, how your child sucks their thumb impacts how it affects their teeth. Vigorous and active thumb-sucking puts a lot of repetitive pressure on the jawbone and roof of the mouth which can cause certain issues requiring correction. These are some of the most common conditions of active thumb-sucking; 

Bite Issues

Overbite is basically where the front teeth protrude out from the jaw and mouth. Other bite issues include the bottom teeth tipping inwards or the bottom and top teeth not meeting when the mouth is closed. A dentist can quickly confirm bite issues during an initial scan. 

Sensitivity

Rapid and constant thumb-sucking can sometimes lead to sensitivity to the roof of the mouth. This is not comfortable for little ones and can be aggravated when eating or drinking. Unexplained crying? This could be the culprit. 

Changes To Shape & Alignment

One of the biggest concerns of thumb-sucking is changes to the shape of the jaw and misalignment of the teeth. This is where a dentist may need to get involved to straighten things out – literally. 

Lisp & Speech 

Changes to the shape of the jaw can potentially affect speech patterns and even cause a lisp. 

These issues are not always obvious early on. However, the sooner your little one starts to come and see a dentist the less chance of them becoming a problem. As we always say at LoveTeeth active prevention saves more invasive treatment later down the line. So never feel shy of giving us a call or popping into your local clinic for an appointment. 

How Can You Help Kids Give Up Thumb-Sucking?

If you are concerned your child is sucking their thumb too often or beyond the age of six months – there are ways to gently help them to stop. Here’s a few tried and tested formulas.

Carrot over the stick

Try to remind them of the benefits of stopping thumb-sucking rather than condoling them for doing it. The carrot over the stick works well. Maybe a sticker for going all day without sucking their thumb or even some carrot sticks (good for the teeth too)

Try A Clever Device

There are certain orthodontic devices that can be used to stop thumb-sucking. Your dentist can advise on what is best and how to use it. 

Ask Your Dentist For Support

Honestly – that is what we are here for. Helping parents look after their little ones’ teeth is one of the biggest joys for dentists. And the journey to a bright, healthy smile starts before they can even say dentist. The sooner we become friends, the happier you will feel and their teeth will be.

Finally… 

Thumb-sucking is a part of childhood and while it can be harmless, monitoring ensures healthy development of their teeth. Vigorous thumb-sucking or keeping the habit for too long can lead to alignment, bite and even speech issues later down the line. If you have any concerns over your little one’s thumb-sucking, speaking to a kids dentist can help. They are there to support, guide and take care of smiles of all sizes… And you are never too old for a sticker.