What is a Good Age to Break Thumb Sucking?
Thumb sucking is something that many little ones do as a way to self-soothe. Some babies even have a natural tendency to do this while still in the womb. But how long is too long? What is a good age to break thumb sucking?
How Thumb Sucking Impacts Oral Health
Because the habit of thumb sucking includes putting a finger in their mouth, it should be no surprise that it has a direct impact on oral health. The following are a few of the most common dental concerns that are related to sucking the thumb.
- Overbite
- Open bite
- Cross bite
- Palate changes
- Changes in tongue palate
And, due to the repetitive behavior as the jaw is developing and forming, it can lead to impaired jaw growth too.
When to Address Thumb Sucking
For many kids, especially those who are young infants, thumb sucking is very normal – especially once they begin growing and discover their fingers. During this time, just make sure your little one’s fingers are clean.
Most kids will stop sucking their thumb on their own after just a couple of years.
Ages 2 to 3 years: This is a very common time for sucking the thumb. So much so that many pediatric dentists and pediatricians will agree that this is normal behavior. Ideally we would love to see the habit stop by age 3 but often times it is difficult. Encouragement to help stop is the best method at this age.
Ages 3 to 6 years: While it is not uncommon for the thumb-sucking habit to continue throughout these ages, it should be closely monitored. There is also a good chance that your pediatric dentist will tell you it is time to start making an effort to eliminate the habit as much as possible. When bringing the topic up to your child, it is best to be as gentle as possible as if the child gets upset the thumb will normally go in the mouth for your child to self soothe.
Dental issues can start arising early but when permanent teeth begin to erupt things can begin to look worse. This usually happens around age 6, but changes often occur well in advance of this. So addressing thumb sucking as early as possible within this timeframe will be most ideal.
Ages 6 years and older: Issues with oral health and development are much more likely to occur if your child continues to suck their thumb going forward. As a result, more complex treatments may be necessary to align the bite and correct issues caused by the thumb.
How to Stop Thumb-Sucking Behavior
You want to encourage your child to stop sucking their thumb in a gentle manner. Remember, many develop this habit as a self-soothing technique. And while removing their ability to suck their thumb can be beneficial for their teeth, it could be detrimental to their mental and emotional well-being.
Here are a few ideas to help you get started with your child.
- Talk to your child and explain how it can impact the teeth in an age-appropriate manner
- Remind your child to remove their thumb when you see it in their mouth
- Offer a distraction to your child
- Create reward charts for not sucking their thumb
- Invest in one of the many devices, such as thumb guards, to help curb the habit
- After the age of 4 there are solutions that you can put on the thumbnail but this should be discussed with your pediatric dentist before anything is applied. Never use hot sauce at any age as it could end up in the eye and you could be off for an emergency room visit.
Of course, speaking to your child’s pediatric dentist is a great way to start addressing the behavior. There are many different oral appliances, tools, and tricks that dentists can use to protect your little one’s oral health.
Learn More at Pediatric Dental Care of Memphis
Is your child a thumb-sucker? Take steps now to curb the habit with the help of the pediatric dental experts at Pediatric Dental Care of Memphis. We will work with you and your child to find a way to preserve oral health — and stop thumb sicking.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations. Or, if you prefer, you can request an appointment online.