Thumb and Finger Sucking

It is very common for infants to receive comfort and pleasure from sucking their finger or thumb especially when they are tired or stressed. The use of dummies also offers the same comfort.

Prolonged use of dummies and thumb or finger sucking can cause changes to the teeth and jaws if it becomes a long-standing habit. The majority of children stop this habit at the age of 5 and before any permanent teeth erupt into the mouth. In these cases, the changes in the teeth and jaws correct themselves naturally.

Problems and potential harm caused by prolonged thumb and finger sucking

The degree in which the following changes may occur depends upon the duration of time the habit is in place, the angle of the thumb in the mouth, the force of the thumb or finger against the soft tissues of the mouth and teeth and the hours of sucking each day.

  1. An overbite: upper front teeth may be pushed further forward than they would naturally have been.

  2. An open bite: when the top and bottom teeth do not meet when the jaw is closed leaving a space where the tongue can poke.

  3. Problems developing a normal swallowing reflex.

  4. Development of a lisp: Certain sounds are difficult to make as a result of the teeth being pushed away from their normal position.

  5. Narrowing and distortion of the palate.

  6. Asymmetry or the upper arch.

  7. Callouses on the thumbs

  8. Psychological concerns.

How to help your child stop the habit

Most children stop of their own choice before the age of 5 while others stop when they first go to school and are influenced by peer pressure. The comfort gained from this habit dissipates with the discomfort of loosening baby teeth.

Some children may need help to stop the habit. In these cases, parents can consider the following advice.

  1. Be positive. Be patient. Give your child plenty of encouragement and praise when you see your child trying. Do not nag them to stop as this will add stress to the child and have the opposite effect.

  2. Use prompts to remind your child not to suck such as placing a bandage on the digit used for sucking if the child consents.

  3. Celebrate their progress. Use a calendar to track and reinforce their success. Go on a special outing or reward with a toy to celebrate time periods when your child goes without sucking. Start with one night, then one week to one month.

  4. Reminders such as placing a bad tasting paste on the thumb may help. The best times to place the paste is when the child is most vulnerable such as bedtime and watching TV.

  5. For young children who have not responded to parental encouragement it is recommended that the child be referred to a paediatric dentist.

  6. Orthodontic assessment is recommended for older children who are in school.

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Tooth Decay