For children, thumbsucking can be an instinctive habit. Beginning at an early age, many children find comfort in sucking on fingers, pacifiers and other objects that provide a sense of security. But this not-so-unusual habit comes at a cost for our little ones.
Once the permanent teeth begin to sprout, thumbsucking can create misalignment of the teeth and distort proper growth of the mouth. While sucking on pacifiers can be an equally as troublesome habit affecting the mouth and teeth, it’s often an easier habit to correct.
If you’re worried that your child may have some dental issues associated with thumbsucking, the first task is to curb the thumbsucking until it’s a thing of the past.
How to Fix a Thumbsucking Habit
In many cases, children will naturally grow out of thumbsucking between the ages of two and four. In other cases, thumbsucking can go on until the permanent teeth are ready to make an appearance. Either way, it can take some encouragement and consistency to keep those fingers at bay. Helping our children kick the thumbsucking habit can
A few positive reinforcements you might consider include the following:
- Educate yourself on the proper ways to help your child work through this addictive behavior. Psychologist Susan Heitler, Ph.D., wrote an inspiring story and case study for Psychology Today that is well worth the read.
- When your child isn’t sucking a thumb, praise them for not doing so.
- Observe if the thumbsucking is a side effect of insecurity of feeling deserve for comfort. If so, zero in on the cause of the anxiety and give your tiny person some extra TLC.
- For older kiddos, speak with them about thumbsucking and motivate them to decide for themselves to give it up. At this point, your youngster to be educated on the pitfalls of thumbsucking.
- Be gentle with how you speak to your child about thumbsucking. As it goes with adults, conversations about physical appearance and bad habits can trigger emotional responses and, if not navigated softly, can ignite self-esteem issues.
Thumbsucking and Permanent Teeth
If you’re beyond the early stages of thumbsucking, and your child is experiencing some dental alignment issues with their permanent teeth, don’t fret. It can be fixed. Today, there are various options to straighten teeth and achieve a confident smile. If you have questions about the course of your child’s dental health, we can map out a plan together.