Many children adopt thumb sucking in infancy only for it to carry over into their toddler years. This bad habit can cause a variety of dental problems such as teeth misalignment and overbites that create speech impediments and eating difficulties. Further, the germs increase your child’s risk of contracting an illness. That’s why dentists advise parents to help their kids kick the habit. Below are three tips that will help permanently eliminate this behavior and set your child on the path to lifelong dental health. 

3 Solutions for Thumb Sucking

1. Positive Reinforcement

Psychology has proven the effectiveness of positive reinforcement, which involves rewarding the child when he doesn’t suck his thumb. You can offer some additional TV time or create a sticker chart for each day they successfully avoid the behavior. Your child quickly learns that they enjoy these new benefits more than thumb sucking. Just keep in mind your dentist doesn’t recommend sugary treats that can cause cavities. 

2. Remove Triggers

In one dentist’s experience, many children use thumb sucking as a stress response. Identifying what prompts your child to suck their thumb can help you remove these triggers, and thus, the behavior. For example, a child with social anxiety may suck his thumb when a new playmate comes over. Try to mitigate this stress with reassuring words before arrival and a hug if you notice increasing stress. 

3. Kind Reminders

Other children subconsciously suck their thumbs with no emotional cause. In this case, it’s important to monitor your child’s behavior and offer kind reminders when you catch them in the act. Be careful you don’t scold or frighten them because your child may revert to the habit to handle the stress if they feel they’re in trouble.

Bethel Family Dentistry in Bethel, OH, pride themselves on providing compassionate general and cosmetic dentistry for families in the area. From a preventative dental cleaning to a complex root canal procedure, the staff is well-trained in technique and safety to get quality results. Reach the dentist’s office at (513) 734-2029 or visit their Facebook page for more info.