When taking your child to your family dental practice for a routine checkup, your dentist may ask about thumb sucking. While this practice is common with infants and toddlers as a way to self soothe, general dentistry professionals will voice concerns when the habit is performed frequently or as children start to develop permanent teeth. If you have questions about the impact of thumb sucking on a child’s smile, here is some information dental offices want you to know. 

How Does Thumb Sucking Impact Teeth?

Thumb sucking and the extended use of pacifiers beyond the first few years of your child’s life can alter the shape of your child’s mouth as well as the alignment of teeth. A vigorous sucking action can result in front teeth that jut out, as well as alterations to the shape of the roof of the mouth. Due to these issues, dental offices encourage parents to keep a close eye on thumb sucking habits. This form of self-soothing should be curbed before your child reaches the age of 5 or 6 to minimize the risk of changes in tooth alignment or the mouth shape as a whole. 

How Can It Be Discouraged?

Instead of scolding a child for sucking their thumb, offer positive reinforcement and praise when they avoid the habit. Since thumb sucking often occurs when a child feels anxious or insecure, find other items or methods that can offer a sense of calm, whether it’s a hug, a blanket, or a favorite stuffed animal. If thumb sucking is most often performed before bedtime or when sleeping, consider putting gloves on your little one before bedtime.

If you still can’t cut down the thumb sucking, schedule an appointment with your child’s dental office. Discussing the habit and its implications with a friendly, caring dentist or getting a prescription for a mouth appliance or bitter medication to apply to the thumb may help with the process and finding solutions. 

If you’re a parent in New Haven County, CT, and you’re looking for a friendly family dental practice that offers life long oral health care, John D. DDS Mainwaring is the dentist for you. Dr. John Mainwaring and his associates, Dr. Raman Gill, and Dr. Pamela Karkut, use state-of-the-art equipment and a compassionate bedside manner to ensure every patient maintains a beautiful smile. Call (203) 799-6625 to schedule an appointment at this dental office and visit their website to explore their services.