How Thumb Sucking Damages Oral Health

Most kids develop a thumb-sucking habit. This makes parents wonder if thumb-sucking is expected or if it is bad for their child. If it damages their oral health, parents need to understand how to stop their child. Thumb sucking is a natural reflex for most kids, and they might quit with time. But it can lead to serious dental issues in the future.

This article will help you understand how to quit this habit and help your kids maintain their oral health. You will also get an overview of dental risks that come with thumb sucking. Let us explore the impact of thumb sucking and how to prevent it.

Is Thumb Sucking Normal?

Toddlers feel safe and secure after sucking their thumbs. It is a regular habit for kids and is safe as well. However, as they grow up, sucking their thumb or putting objects in their mouth is not secure. They try to learn about their atmosphere and explore the world. Sucking a thumb can help one to soothe a baby, but it stops between the age of two to four.

If your child is above four and still sucks their thumb, you need to visit the dentist. Thumb-sucking can lead to a number of serious consequences if ignored. You can experience speech issues, chewing difficulties, and wit wears on your teeth.

Consequences Of Thumb Sucking

Most children who have thumb-sucking habits face teasing from peers and lose confidence. This impacts their self-esteem and also affects their oral health. Here are several impacts of thumb sucking you can look at:

Misaligned Bite
The significant consequence of thumb sucking is the bite problem. Your teeth might become misaligned and lose their ability to bite correctly. It can shift your teeth’ structure and cause irregular surfaces.

Speech Issues
Thumb sucking can also result in speech problems. You might lisp or have difficulty pronouncing a few letters.

Difficulty to Chew
This also results in difficulty in chewing and swallowing your food. You might experience conditions such as overbite, open bite, or backbite.

Palate Change
Another consequence of thumb sucking habit is a change in the palate. It damages the roof of the mouth, and it becomes sensitive to touch and sensations. Thumb sucking can lead to a change in its shape to make it concave.

Jaw Issues
Thumb sucking can affect your jaw too. It can cause deformities that will require surgical corrections. Your child might lose the ability to develop their teeth and jaw normally.

Irregular wear on Teeth
Sucking habits can also lead to irregular wear on teeth. Sucking puts pressure on your teeth and adjoining tissue. This will cause irregular wear on teeth.

Dental Care For Thumb Suckers

Dental care for children is challenging yet necessary. Parents must monitor tooth decay in baby teeth and dental hygiene when children have permanent teeth. Damage to permanent teeth is expensive and complex, so parents must teach children to follow hygienic routines and avoid bad habits such as thumb-sucking.

Brushing and flossing teeth to remove deposits is reasonable. To prevent bacteria formation, food must not be trapped between teeth. Parents also need to ensure their child has a balanced diet. Avoiding sugary candy and chocolates is effective in preventing tooth decay.

Parents of children with baby teeth should pay close attention to prevent decay. They also need to teach and follow a dental hygiene routine to promote better oral health for their children. You should also bring your kids to dental office visits to ensure they get comfortable with the family dentist.

How to Help Kids from Becoming Thumb Suckers?

Helping young children change their habits is difficult. Kids are often stubborn about their choices. If a kid finds comfort in thumb-sucking, they might not leave it. This makes the task of a parent quite challenging. With an understanding of all the consequences and severe complications of thumb-sucking, a parent must help out their kids in such situations.

Here are some strategies you can use to help your kid change their habit:

Be Patient
Dealing with kids requires patience and calmness. One must start with praises and encouraging talks to help kids understand what’s wrong and right.

Set Goals
You can plan small goals such as no thumb sucking during the bath or before bed. Or just play it out like no thumb-sucking for an hour. Kids love to play such games, and they will enjoy this activity.

Identify Trigger
You should observe your child’s behavior more closely than what triggers them to suck their thumb. It can be boredom, hunger, stress, or any other trigger. Once you identify it, you can solve the situation faster.

Avoid Shouting
The best way to go is to avoid shouting at your children. If you complain, nag or yell at them every time they break a rule or suck their thumb, they might rebel even more.

Consider Dental Appliance
Using a palatal crib or hand stopper can help your kids avoid sucking. This may seem excessive at first, but it is essential to avoid extreme complications later.

Use Distractions
You can also use distractions such as toys, cuddles, or giving them something to play with. If their hands are busy, they might forget about sucking.

Use Reminders
You can also use a glove, adhesive bandage, or nontoxic nail to coat their thumbs to remind them not to suck their thumb.

Final Thoughts

Thumb sucking is a common habit for infants that helps them feel cozy and secure. Kids might grow and leave this habit with time. However, this habit can lead to severe complications as children develop permanent teeth. As a parent, you must ensure your kids avoid this habit and prevent dental problems in the future. You can visit Devine Dentist TX to learn more about preventive measures and dental care to prevent thumb-sucking. You can better care for your child’s oral health with professional assistance.