How Thumb Sucking Damages Dental Health

The instinct to suck on a thumb or pacifier is natural in children and is a habit that begins in the womb. The sucking motion is soothing to them, so it can help put them at ease in stressful situations or help them fall asleep. 

Thumb sucking is a natural reflex because infants need to suck to eat and get their nutrients. However, this behavior typically decreases or is discontinued altogether between the ages of 2 and 4. 

Consequences of Thumb Sucking

Though most children stop sucking their thumb between the ages of 2-4, some children may continue the behavior until their permanent teeth come in. At this point, it is important to discourage thumb sucking (through positive reinforcement) so it does not have long-term oral health consequences.

While sucking on a pacifier for an extended period can cause the same issues, thumb sucking is even worse, because the fingers can harbor bacteria and germs that go into your child’s mouth. If your child does not have clean hands and sucks on their thumb, this may make them sick in addition to causing oral health problems.

The following are all problems that can be caused by prolonged thumb sucking:

• Over or underbite
• Openbite
• Speech problems
• Social issues
• Changes to the shape of the jaw
• Sensitivity in the roof of the mouth
• Misaligned teeth
• Changes to the roof of the mouth
• Oral infection
  

When Should My Child Stop Thumb Sucking?

Thumb sucking is a harder habit to break than pacifier use because you can take pacifiers away from your child to wean them off. However, since this can not be done with your child’s thumbs, they always have the temptation right there in front of them. 

Ideally, thumb-sucking should be discouraged altogether because it is unsanitary. However, you can’t always stop your child from sucking on their thumb and it is usually not a real cause for concern until their permanent teeth are coming in at around age 6. 

This does not mean that oral health issues will not pop up before then, however. It is best to encourage your child to stop sucking their thumb as soon as possible, ideally before they are 3 years old.

How to Stop Your Child From Sucking Their Thumb

Sometimes drawing attention to the fact that your child sucks their thumb can encourage or worsen the behavior, so the first thing you should try is not addressing or acknowledging it at all. If this does nothing to reduce their thumb sucking, then the next best thing is positive reinforcement. 

Children do not respond well to negative reinforcement, shaming, and punishments. If anything, this will only strengthen their desire to continue the behavior. Positive reinforcement is a method of weaning your child off of certain behaviors by providing them with small rewards when they do not engage in the behavior. For example, if your child does not suck their thumb for a few hours, you can offer to take them to the park.

You should also pay attention to situations that tend to trigger the thumb-sucking behavior. Perhaps you notice that they are more likely to suck their thumb when they are stressed out, tired, or upset. 

This enables you to be prepared during these situations and offer alternative methods of comfort. You may also use gentle reminders to remind them not to suck their thumb if they forget or are doing it subconsciously. However, beware not to be too critical or give it too much attention.

Dental Health Checks at Sprouting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

If your child is about to receive their permanent teeth and is still in the habit of sucking their thumb, you should bring them in for a dental checkup to ensure everything is alright with their teeth and bite alignment. 

We can also help you wean your child off of this behavior and offer treatment for any potential oral health problems. Contact us at Sprouting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in San Diego to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentist in San Diego today.