3 Reasons Why Thumb Sucking is Bad for Teeth




Thumb sucking is a natural reaction for infants and young children. They usually suck on their thumb or fingers if they are a feeling anxious or insecure. By the time their first teeth erupt you want to decrease their thumb sucking habits. Sometimes focusing on the fact that your child is sucking their thumb can increase their desire to do so, instead try focusing and relieving the reason behind them sucking on their thumb.

Thumb sucking can cause front teeth to stick out further then they should. Between the ages of two and four, teeth are forming and shaping. If your child always has something in their mouth pressing up against the teeth it can cause them to shift and move.

Dr. Fuller states, “Depending upon the length of time your child sucks their thumb, and how vigorously can also make a difference on the severity of other problems they may face. Improper jaw alignment can occur if thumb sucking goes beyond the age of 2.”  

Consistent pressure on the front teeth during the thumb sucking process can prevent the front teeth from closing down properly. This can create a problem for children when they begin speaking, as certain sounds are made in certain locations in the mouth.

If you’re struggling to get your child to stop sucking their thumb, contact us today for options to help.


Comments

  1. UnknownMay 20, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    I would never have thought that thumb-sucking could actually harm children's teeth. It's pretty incredible that something that simple can change your jaw alignment. Finding out things like this makes a pretty good case for going to a dentist regularly. How else would you know about oral health hazards like this and how to fix them? http://www.clearviewmarketdental.ca

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMay 21, 2015 at 12:37 PM

    That is really good to know that thumb sucking is bad for teeth. This is something that every pediatric dentist should be informing their clients about. Doing that will help people to make sure that their children's teeth are well taken care of. They do not want to have troubles with their teeth because they are sucking their thumbs.
    http://www.drmarkstapleton.com

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