- #Ways to stop sucking your thumb how to
- #Ways to stop sucking your thumb update
- #Ways to stop sucking your thumb professional
If you are having trouble stopping your child’s thumb-sucking, you can try weaning them from thumbs to pacifiers, and then to nothing at all. However, breaking the habit of using a pacifier is easier than breaking the habit of sucking thumbs. Pacifiers cause the same damage to teeth that sucking thumbs and fingers do. Reminding them gently when they start to suck their thumb and giving small awards for when they don’t can also do a lot of good.
Praising your child when they don’t suck they thumb goes much further than scolding your child when they do. Hearing this from a source outside of the family may help encourage them to stop the habit. See Your Dentistīring your child to the dentist for an explanation about why thumb-sucking is so bad for their teeth and mouth. If your child sucks their thumb hard or is over four years of age and still hasn’t stopped, then here are some ways to help them break this habit. However, vigorous thumb-sucking or thumb-sucking seen in older children can create problems with the growth of the mouth and the alignment of teeth. (2014).Thumb-sucking is a habit most young children have because it soothes them, helps them fall asleep, or makes them feel happy and secure.
#Ways to stop sucking your thumb update
Schedule a consultation to share your concerns, and/or provide an update on the situation during your next appointment.įeature, H.
#Ways to stop sucking your thumb professional
A dental examination and professional guidance can help point you in the right direction depending on the severity of thumb sucking and your child’s age. It could also be helpful to team up with your dentist to tackle the issue. No matter which route you choose, keeping a positive approach and demeanor will go a long way in making the experience less stressful for both you and your child. Seek help from the dentist: a mouth guard or special coating for the thumb may ultimately be recommended depending on your child’s dental situation.Use creative reminders: agree on a special signal to help discretely halt the behavior if you catch your child doing it in public, and try a bandage over the finger or a sock over the hand to deter thumb sucking at night.Reward his or her efforts: enthusiastic praise, a sticker, or other special treat can be very motivating and make the process fun.
#Ways to stop sucking your thumb how to
How to Put an End to the Thumb Sucking for Good If your child starts to lose baby teeth, however, and still sucks his or her thumb aggressively, you’ll need to step in to prevent dental problems from emerging. In fact, thumb sucking is a natural, self-soothing reflex for many babies and toddlers, and a wise (and non-traumatic) course of action may simply be to wait and see if your child outgrows the behavior over time. This means that if your child only has primary teeth, you can table extreme measures to curb the habit for now. While corrective action and regular dentist visits can save your little one from such dental trauma, timing can make a big difference in the experience for parent and child.Īccording to the American Dental Association, dental problems associated with thumb sucking typically occur with the arrival of permanent teeth.
Left unchecked, sucking can also alter the natural position of the jawbone and change the shape and sensitivity of the roof of the mouth, which can lead to a lisp over time. Prolonged sucking can ultimately lead to a number of oral issues: jaw misalignment, protrusion of the upper teeth, crookedness and/or bite problems. Long-Term Effects of Non-Nutritive Sucking Here is the truth about the dental risks, when it is necessary to intervene, and effective ways to break the habit for good. Starting to fear your child is addicted to thumb sucking? Push those worst-case scenarios and harsh weaning tactics from your mind. No Crying Necessary: Simple Ways to Stop Thumb SuckingĪt first it was adorable, but now it has become worrisome.