How Thumb Sucking Impacts Dental Health in Children

It is relatively common for children to have pacifiers during the newborn stage of life and to pick up the habit of sucking their thumb once the pacifier is taken away. The act of sucking their thumb is comforting, often used as a self-soothing method, and is relatively common. While it may be cute early on, it can easily become an oral-fixation habit that is hard to break.

Naturally, many children will give up the habit of thumb sucking between the ages of 2 and 4, however, when the habit lingers, issues may arise. The long-term effects of thumb sucking can be damaging to several areas of a child’s dental health including, but not limited to: tooth alignment, mouth shape, bite issues, speech impairment, and sensitivity of the tissue in the roof of the mouth.

Long-Term Impacts of Thumb Sucking

Prolonged thumb sucking (and even use of a pacifier or bottle past toddlerhood) can leave damaging evidence in a child’s mouth and tooth structure.

• The motion of the thumb moving in and out of the mouth with friction against the teeth will eventually begin to shift the more fragile baby teeth in a child’s mouth. The suction of the sucking creates a pulling force which can cause teeth to move over time.
• Thumb sucking uses certain muscles in the mouth and can cause the jaw structure to shift after an extended period. As the teeth and jaw shift, an overbite or under bite may become an unfortunate consequence.
• Because the tongue and teeth work together to make certain sounds, a shift in teeth and/or the jaw (inward or outward) can cause a lisp or other speech impairments.
• As the thumb and the roof of the mouth rub together long-term, children may begin to complain about the roof of their mouth hurting. The skin and tissue at the top of the mouth (and on the thumb!) may become sensitive and even raw at times.

Suggestions to Help Your Child Stop Sucking Their Thumb

Luckily, if the habit of thumb sucking can be curbed by the time your child starts to get permanent teeth, the aforementioned impacts may be reduced. We have compiled a simple list of ways to help end the thumb sucking phase for your child.

• As your child gets older, their peers will start to notice that they are doing something like a “baby.” The negative attention from classmates alone may be enough to make them stop. To save your child from the potential embarrassment, try to have a conversation about being a big kid, what that means, and how thumb sucking is not a part of that picture.
• As mentioned, thumb sucking is often a comfort habit, used when a child feels upset, scared, anxious, overwhelmed, etc. If you can pick up on the things that trigger the thumb sucking, you may be able to help alleviate the stressors/causes and slowly eliminate the need for the thumb sucking.
• Instead of shaming your child whenever you catch them sucking their thumb, try to use a reward system. A sticker chart, a special treat at the end of the week, a prize chest, any reward that would be an incentive for your child to cut down or stop the habit would be least damaging and most successful.

We are Here to Help! 

If you are concerned about your child’s smile or are beginning to notice the negative impacts of thumb sucking on your child’s oral health, please contact our office. If you are in the Brooklyn, NY area and looking for the best kids’ dentist around, Dr. Yury Slepak, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, at 2464 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11223 would love to help guide you on the best options for you and your child! Call 718-998-2424 to schedule your child’s appointment today!