Lots of small children suck their thumbs or fingers as it’s a perfectly normal and appropriate habit that can be very comforting to very young children. Even when the habit persists beyond infancy, it’s not usually a concern. The habit tends to dwindle in most children once they move beyond being a toddler and enter their preschool years. However some 20% of children will still be sucking their finger or thumb beyond the age of five. At this stage they are more likely to be teased and this can cause social problems for a young child. While every parent or caregiver wants their kid to feel at ease in social situations and to be confident in life, thumb sucking can cause other problems, in particular with kids teeth and dental development.
Problems Caused by Finger Sucking
By age 5 or six, the permanent kids teeth will be starting to come through and this is when thumb sucking or finger sucking can cause developmental problems, and as a result children with this habit may end up with an abnormal bite.
The most common problem is noticing the upper kids teeth are forced outwards due to the positioning of the thumb. The pressure of the thumb causes the upper jaw to become elongated and narrower, creating what’s called an overbite. In addition, children can develop speech problems as they will have trouble making the S sound and other sounds that require normal tooth and jaw positions. At the same time, thumb or finger sucking can force the lower front kids teeth inwards and backwards as the thumb tends to rest on these kids teeth.
At this stage it may be necessary for a child to have an early orthodontic evaluation to help correct any problems and to make sure the jaws and kids teeth can develop normally. This will enable the child to benefit from a nice, well-balanced facial profile and an attractive smile. Although early treatment can help, it’s still important to help a child break the habit.
How You Can Help Kids Teeth
It helps enormously if the child wants to stop thumb or finger sucking as you’ll be able to get them engaged in the process. Generally, positive reinforcement works much more effectively than negative reinforcement as a child who feels miserable is much more likely to turn to thumb sucking for comfort. Many parents find it helpful to set up a reward chart or some sort of reward system with stickers marking progress and the agreement of a small reward at the end of each week they manage not to suck their thumb. Anti-nail-biting liquid can be helpful when painted onto the nails last thing at night, just as a reminder for the child not to suck their thumb. If a child does have difficulty stopping this habit than it’s worth talking to a pediatric dentist as it’s possible to have a custom-made device that actively prevents them from sucking their thumb. These devices are generally removable and can be very helpful in some cases.
