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Young children, especially babies, have a natural urge to suck on their thumbs or pacifiers. This is mainly because the action is soothing, and can sometimes increase during times of stress. However, pacifier and thumb sucking in younger children isn’t necessarily something to worry about. But when these habits stretch into the elementary school years, they can cause subtle, gradually increasing damage to your child’s developing teeth. The impact of these habits can be difficult to assess with the naked eye and tends to occur over a prolonged period of time. Your pediatric dentist is an important partner in addressing these habits and correcting any problems they bring about.
Thumb or Pacifier Sucking: Is it a Problem?
Thumb sucking is a natural reflex in babies and both thumb and pacifier sucking are fairly common in young children. Many children stop these habits on their own by age 3 or 4. But if your child continues sucking their thumb or pacifier beyond that point, you may want to start a conversation with your dentist about intervention.
What is the Impact of Thumb or Pacifier Sucking?
When children continue a thumb or pacifier sucking habit as permanent teeth start to grow in, the habit can affect everything from bite to jaw development, while also causing problems with development of the roof of the mouth. Thumb sucking over a prolonged period can actually make developing teeth and bone move out of place. In many cases of longer-term thumb or pacifier sucking, the upper teeth can be pushed out, while the lower teeth are pushed inward. In other cases, children can develop an “open bite”—an opening in the front teeth that accommodates the thumb or pacifier. Thumb sucking can also block teeth from fully emerging.
According to the American Dental Association, problems tend to be worse for “aggressive” thumb suckers, rather than children who simply rest their thumbs in their mouths. Longer-term pacifier use can present very similar problems to thumb sucking, but experts say in most cases, a pacifier habit is easier to break because it involves an external object. Overall, children tend to give up pacifiers at an earlier age, but in some cases, intervention is required.
What are the Options for Breaking the Thumb Sucking Habit?
In some cases, once a child reaches a certain age, a few conversations with his or her pediatric dentist, along with support at home may do the trick. In some older children, thumb sucking is often a response to anxiety. Working to address the underlying causes of anxiety can help break the habit. If talking about it is not enough, there are other options— one which includes an appliance that interferes the habit and making it less pleasant for the child.
Your dentist may recommend trying an old fashioned first step, like a bandage over the thumb, a sock over the hand while sleeping or dabbing lemon juice on the area. However, in many cases, where the habit is a little harder to break, behavioral techniques may not be as effective as parents would hope. Your dentist may recommend a fixed or temporary appliance to make breaking the habit easier.
What are the Orthodontic Consequences of Thumb Sucking?
When a finger habit persists beyond the toddler years and into the adolescent years, there can be significant effects on the teeth and surrounding bone. Prolonged thumb-sucking may result in an open bite, narrowing of the upper jaw, or protrusion of the teeth. If your dentist observes any of these findings your child may be a candidate for early orthodontic treatment.
Your Pediatric Dentist: Your Partner in Addressing the Thumb Sucking Habit
Your pediatric dentist is a key partner in helping break your child’s pacifier or thumb sucking habit in a careful and compassionate way. Your dentist also plays a key role in addressing any damage caused by these habits. In many cases of longer term thumb or pacifier sucking, orthodontic intervention may be needed. This is one more reason choosing a pediatric dentistry practice with an in-house orthodontist makes so much sense. At NOVA Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we carefully track our patient’s’ dental history from an early age and can make thoughtful recommendations about preventing and correcting problems to ensure the best possible outcomes for your child.