Thumb sucking is a widespread habit for young children. They may start as infants and continue for several years as a way to self-soothe when they're stressed or bored. While most thumb sucking isn't a problem, if it's too aggressive or continues for too long, it can increase the chance of your child needing significant dental care.

What Dentists Want Parents to Know About Thumb Sucking

The teeth aren't solidly connected to the jawbone. Instead, there's a thin layer of soft tissue that lines the tooth socket. This allows the teeth to move and shift, especially if they're under pressure for a long time. This is the key to some kinds of dental care, like braces, but it also means thumb sucking can shift the teeth in unwanted directions. Children who suck their thumbs too much can end up with a gap in their front teeth where they don't close correctly, or encounter issues with teeth that bow outwards instead of being straight up and down. Not only does this look unpleasant, but it's also detrimental to their dental care plan because the teeth are more vulnerable to breaking when they don't line up with the rest of the arch.

How to Help Your Child Stop

It's normal for children to suck their thumbs occasionally, up to around age five. If your child is getting close to that age and doesn't seem to be stopping on their own, or if they're about four years old and suck their thumb aggressively, you can start weaning them off it. Praise them whenever you see that they aren't sucking their thumbs. Also, pay attention to when they're most likely to do it. If they do it when they're tired, schedule extra naps. If they do it when they're feeling uncertain or insecure, take time to reassure them. At its core, thumb sucking is a self-soothing technique that can be replaced with comfort objects like stuffed animals or other methods like breathing and meditation exercises.

For quality children's dental care in Wisconsin, choose La Crosse Pediatric Dentistry. Serving Campbell County, Dr. Hanks is a member of both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association. If you’re dealing with a thumb-sucker, they can help provide tips and advice to cut the habit before it becomes a problem. He and his team are experienced at pediatric dental care and oral hygiene, and they work to make every visit fun and stress-free for your child. Call (608) 782-4054 to schedule an appointment or learn more about the team online.