A Children’s Dentist in Lake Forest Addresses Thumbsucking

When parents bring their children to our office to meet a children's dentist in Lake Forest, one of the common concerns is the issue of thumb sucking. Many children suck their thumb. Thumb-sucking can begin in infancy to help children relax and self-soothe. Babies may find that sucking their thumb helps them to calm down and feel secure. However, as children continue to age, some will keep up the habit as a means of security.

Keep in mind that sucking the thumb is a natural reflex and so children do not start the habit to annoy parents or with the idea that it could cause problems. Instead, they are just doing it to feel happier or safer.

Most children stop by the age of four

On average, children will have stopped sucking their thumb by the time they are four years old and reached preschool. As long as this happens, there typically will not be too many issues caused by the thumb sucking. However, children who continue to suck their thumb after this could have problems with their permanent teeth.

As a children's dentist in Lake Forest, we become concerned about thumb sucking when children continue to suck their thumb over the age of four since it can cause issues with the alignment of the teeth. Many children who stuck their thumb suffer from an overbite. This is where the upper teeth protrude further than the lower ones.

Other children may have an open bite so that when they bite down, their front teeth do not come together and overlap properly. Instead, there is an open gap between them.

The type of sucking makes a difference

There is a difference between passively sucking the thumb and vigorously sucking it. Those who vigorously suck on their thumb could have more issues.

Health concerns

In addition to having issues with spacing and the way the teeth come together, thumb sucking could pose an additional health risk. Each time a child sucks their thumb, it is unlikely that they are heading to the restroom to wash their hands first.

As such, they are going to be putting germs into their mouth. The more bacteria that enters the mouth, the greater the likelihood of getting sick or suffering from dental decay.

What to do about it

As a children's dentist in Lake Forest, we often recommend that parents take proactive measures to help stop thumb sucking. One simple suggestion is to put a safe but disgusting tasting lotion on a child's hands throughout the day. The lotion will help to keep their hands moist but the taste will be abhorrent to them, making them not enjoy sucking on their thumb. Some parents have also taken measures like having children sit on their hands or wear mittens all day so they do not suck their thumb. These can be effective as well.

It may also help to explain to a child the concern for sucking their thumb or to give them an alternative for doing so. Chewing on sugar-free gum, for example, can help to replace this habit if they need to have something constantly in their mouth.

Schedule a consultation

If you are concerned about your child's thumb-sucking habit, call our office and schedule a consultation. We will be happy to provide you with assistance and advice.

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