What are the Dental Consequences of Thumbsucking?
It’s common for babies and children to suck on their thumb as a natural reflex to help them feel comforted. As natural as this reflex may be for babies and children, it can cause damage to their teeth and mouths if it continues for too long. Vigorous thumbsucking can have many dental consequences on the teeth and mouth.
After six months the urge to do this begins to decrease, but if they have learned to comfort themselves with their thumb, this may continue long past that timeframe. Thirty percent of children in preschool suck their thumbs, which is age appropriate. Children tend to naturally wean themselves of sucking their thumb at around age three, but if the habit continues past age four, the long-term dental consequences could surface and if the thumb sucking continues past age five, this could be a sign of emotional or other problems.
How Will Thumb Sucking Affect My Child’s Teeth?
Misaligned Teeth
Thumbsucking can ruin the alignment of your child’s teeth. The most serious permanent side effects of thumbsucking are the imperfect positioning of the teeth when the jaws are closed, otherwise known as malocclusion or Overbite and Open Bite.
Overbite
Overbite occurs when the upper front teeth are directed outward and the top teeth cover the bottom teeth when your child’s mouth is closed rather than the top and bottom teeth touching. An overbite can affect the shape of the face and smile and in extreme situations your child may need extensive orthodontic treatment to correct the problem.
Open Bite
Open bite occurs when the top and bottom front teeth are directed outward. With this misalignment the top and bottom front teeth don’t touch, even when your child’s mouth is closed completely. This causes embarrassment of having teeth jut outwardly and will likely require costly orthodontic treatment down the road.
Speech Impediments
Thumbsucking affects the proper development of the teeth, jaw, and palate. It can change how your child eats and speaks. Without correct dental care, even high-quality speech therapy may not fully correct these impediments because the deformed sounds are partially caused by the shape of your child’s teeth in relation to his or her tongue. Difficulty in communicating effectively can lead your child to feel frustrated, angry, and have feelings of isolation.
Social Ramifications
Thumbsucking can have an impact on your child socially. If he or she is over four years old and still sucks their thumb, you may need support from your dentist to overcome the habit. In all cases, eliminating thumbsucking should be achieved through positive reinforcement rather than punishment.
Help Your Preschooler Quit Sucking Their Thumb
There are many ways to help your preschooler quit sucking their thumb. Web MD offers a pretty comprehensive list of ways to help them break the habit.
Make a Dental Appointment
If you’re concerned about the effects of thumbsucking on your child’s teeth, make an appointment with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS. In many cases it may be more effective for children to hear the dentist telling them why it’s important to stop thumbsucking than having a talk with mom or dad.
Dr. Evanson prides herself in offering compassionate care for patients of all ages. During a check-up with your child, she can diagnose any problems that may exist due to thumbsucking. Her professional approach will give the needed course of action regarding your child’s dental health, which will be a comfort to you as the parent.
To schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Evanson, call (720) 409-0008 or contact us online.
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