Thumb Sucking & The Effects On Your Teeth

Babies and youngsters tend to suck their thumbs as it serves as a protection blanket for them. However, this form of behavior can also pose risks to an infant’s oral health if not controlled. In this blog, we will study the probable effect of thumb sucking on teeth and the approaches to stop an infant from thumb sucking.

What Are The Causes Of Thumb-Sucking?

Babies are born with reflexes for rooting and sucking, which might lead to them putting their thumbs or hands in their mouths. It is quite normal for infants to lodge to thumb sucking since it makes them sense safe. Some infants might get used to thumb-sucking after they want comfort or bedtime.

When Should You Intervene?

Thumb sucking isn’t always a trouble until the child develops permanent teeth. At this point, thumb sucking could even begin to interfere with the formation of the roof of the mouth (palate) or even how the tooth is aligned.

It is, however, critical to recognize that the occurrence of dental problems depends on the frequency, duration, and pressure utilized by the kid at the same time as sucking on his or her thumb.

Why Thumb Sucking is Harmful to the Teeth?

It might. If your child is a longtime thumb sucker, you can expect him or her to develop crooked teeth.

Thankfully, finger and thumb-sucking habits are not a problem most of the time and only become an issue when they are done for years. Most children lose such habits before significant complications in the dental field set in.

Consequences of Thumb Sucking on the Teeth

Hypnosis Malocclusion
The constant pressure is grown on the teeth and jaws through the thumb or finger to make the front teeth move outward while the back teeth are pressed inward. This malocclusion, described as an open bite or overjet, causes the upper and lower teeth to be unable to align well while biting or chewing.

Narrowing of the Upper Jaw
Since the sucking action involves repeated pushing and pulling with the lips closed and tongue pressed to the roof of the mouth, it can result in the upper jaw becoming too narrow, causing a crossbite. This is a bite where the upper teeth lie inside the lower teeth and a form of malocclusion that can cause jaw discomfort.

Speech Difficulties
Thumb sucking also causes some discomfort in biting and chewing activities, speech problems such as lisp or tongue thrusting, and improper positioning of the tongue and lips as the teeth get misaligned.

Dental Problems
Thumb sucking can also have some other oral effects, including influencing tooth decay and gum inflammation, and may result in toothlessness in advanced stages. The frequent contact with saliva and possible bacteria raises the chance of developing caries, and pressure from the thumb leads to inflammation of the gums or a retraction of the gum line.

Breaking the Habit

Most children naturally outgrow thumb-sucking between the ages of 2 and 4, so parents and guardians shouldn’t be overly concerned about this habit. However, if you want to help your child stop, the first step is to address and gradually break the habit. One effective approach is to limit their use of pacifiers.

Praise & Reward. Sit down with your child and tell them why it is wrong to suck thumbs and discuss how you could encourage them to avoid it — other than offering teeth-damaging candies, of course.

A sticker or an activity you like might do well for them. Tooth-rattling scolding is never appropriate; use gentle reminders every time you see the child putting a thumb in her mouth, and be sure to praise when they abstain.

Comfort & Distract. There are various reasons why children get to suck their thumbs. Is your child likely to do it under pressure or when there is nothing else to do? If so, a few more cuddles or something to keep little hands occupied might do the trick.

Get creative and tailor your approach to what resonates most with your child. For example, you could make the process exciting by attaching their pacifier to a helium balloon and sending it off to the Tooth Fairy. As a reward, the Tooth Fairy could leave a small gift under their pillow to celebrate this milestone!

Let Us Help. If your child sucks their thumb, fingers, or a pacifier, kindly inform us. We can give them a piece of advice and explain to her that it is suitable for her teeth when she quits sucking.

Thumb Sucking Treatment

At times, even higher severity treatment may be necessary to manage the effects of prolonged thumb sucking. These treatments may include:

• Orthodontic Appliances: If, because of thumb sucking, the tooth has shifted, orthodontic braces or Invisalign appliances are probably required for proper alignment of the tooth.
• Speech Therapy: If thumb sucking has caused congestion, a speech therapist can then prescribe certain physical activities and techniques to be done to get better pronunciation and readability of speech.
• Psychological Support: In some situations, the child’s thumb sucks because they want to relieve tension or anxiety levels. A child psychologist or counselor will greatly help in finding out the root cause of the habit.

Conclusion

Thumb sucking may be a natural comforting behavior for a child, but it becomes necessary to correct it before it leads to other worse dental or developmental issues. Parents can effectively break their children from thumb-sucking by using interventions following a consistent pattern and seeking assistance from a professional when needed for children’s dental health.

If you are searching for professional help and looking for an Aransas Pass Dentist in TX, we have a team of specialist dentists who understand how to handle children and give them suitable treatments. This is where Radiant Dental Care comes in. Contact us today and book an appointment to learn more about our services.