 Overview
You may be concerned about your child’s
thumbsucking and wonder if it is harmful,
at what age your child should stop, or
what could happen if your child doesn’t
stop.
Children suck on things because sucking
is one of a baby’s natural reflexes and as infants get older it serves many
purposes. It may make them feel secure
and happy and helps them learn about
their world to suck on their thumbs,
fingers, pacifiers or other objects.
Young children may also suck to soothe
themselves. Since thumbsucking is relaxing,
it may help induce sleep.
After the permanent teeth come
in, sucking may cause problems with the proper growth
of the mouth and alignment of the teeth.
It can also cause changes in the roof
of the mouth. The intensity of the sucking
is a factor that determines whether or
not dental problems may result. If children
rest their thumbs passively in their
mouths, they are less likely to have
difficulty than those who vigorously
suck their thumbs. Some aggressive thumbsuckers
may cause problems with their baby (primary)
teeth. If you notice changes in your
child’s primary teeth, consult
your dentist.
Children should have ceased sucking by
the time the permanent front teeth are
ready to erupt. Usually children stop
between the ages of two and four years.
Pacifiers can affect the teeth
essentially the same ways as sucking fingers and
thumbs. However, it is often an easier
habit to break.
Tips:
- Praise children for not sucking,
instead of scolding them when they
are.
- Children often suck their thumbs
when feeling insecure or needing
comfort.
Focus on correcting the cause
of the anxiety and provide comfort to your child.
- For an older child, involve
him or her in choosing the method
of stopping.
- Your dentist can offer
encouragement to a child and explain
what could
happen to their teeth if they do not stop sucking.
- If the above tips don’t
work, remind the child of
their habit by bandaging
the thumb or putting a sock
on the hand at night. Your dentist
or pediatrician
may prescribe a bitter medication
to coat the thumb or the
use of a mouth
appliance.
Additional
Resources
ADA Dental Minute
Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers
to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses,
treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about
dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may
be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently
Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.
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