Thumbsucking

Thumb sucking is a common habit among many children. It is common with children under two and is associated with the need to seek food. In some infants it can signal fatigue, sleep, hunger, teething and shyness.

Thirty percent of preschool children continue the habit. Most kids out grow it by 5. It is may not be harmful unless the child is still doing it at the time their permanent teeth are coming in, which is usually around 4-6. It is done to comfort your child when they are:

	Bored
	Tired
	Worried
	Feeling stressed

The intensity of thumb sucking is a factor which determines whether or not dental problems may occur. Vigorous thumb suckers will have more dental problems.

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Overbite and misplaced teeth due to sucking

The possible effects of thumb sucking for children after the age of three is:

	Reshape the jawbone because their jawbones are still soft and pliable
	Teeth grow out of aliment and position
	Narrows dental arches which cause the next problem
	Upper front teeth will flare out and tip upward
	Lower teeth will move inward
	Affect growth of child's palate (roof of the mouth) causing:

Poor tongue placement
Problems chewing
Problems with learning to swallow properly. The tongue plays a major role in swallowing. For people who don't suck their thumb or finger, their tongue goes up behind the roof of their mouth as they swallow and this causes a seal. But, when trying to swallow while sucking the thumb or finger, the tongue is thrust forward, in between the front teeth. This action makes swallowing difficult and will require re-training to correct
the tongue movement.
Problems speaking
Overbite or open bite
Make tonsils collapse to cause snoring
The skeletal deformities which can develop can lead to insecurities and self-image problems, particularly in children.

Cause infections to develop around fingernails to spread infectious diseases

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Nail biting can cause your child's teeth to be crooked

It is important to stop the thumb sucking habit BEFORE permanent teeth come in. Breaking the habit sooner will make it easier for you, the parent, your child and their mouth!

If they can not stop on their own, by the ages of two to four, they may need help (we have three children who needed this help!)

	Don't pressure your child to stop, this can reinforce the habit
	Talk to them about the reasons and ways to work together to stop the habit
	Praise them when they do not suck their thumb, caught them doing things right!
	If your child's teeth are moving, talk to your dentist for personalized advice.
	Set up an incentive system to reward their progress
	Don't get frustrated with your child; this tends to make the habit worse.
	If they suck because they feel insecure, focus on eliminating the cause of the anxiety or if they do it for comfort, offer them comfort instead of sucking their thumb.
	Have them hold balls in their hands while they sleep so their hands are busy.
	Taping the end of the thumb
	Reward them for NOT sucking their thumbs
	If your child is older, involve them in choosing the method of stopping
	Remind your child of his habit by bandaging his thumb or putting a sock on his hand at bedtime (you may have to duck tape the sock on!)
	Try the nail polish with cayenne pepper (it works well), if they don't chip it off :-) NEVER place this polish on an infant. NEVER put cayenne pepper on any infant or child's thumb or fingers..it may kill them!
	Have them wear a large shirt with long sleeves. Button it completely on and tie the arms or rubber band them shut so they can not suck on their thumb.
	Ask your dentist to explain to your child the effects of thumb sucking and encourage him to quit.
	See someone on our list of orthodontist to help you learn more about a "fence" (shown in the picture above), which is an appliance that will help your child to stop sucking their thumb.

Habit reminder or "fence"

Care of Habit Reminder or "Fence"

Limit sugary foods and sodas. Also avoid sticky, chewy, or hard foods as they can break your appliance.

Brush your teeth and appliance with toothpaste each morning and night, and after eating, too.

Tguard

The Thumbguard is a device that is attached to a child's wrist using a colorful bracelet. When attached properly, a child can not remove T-Guard. The children must wear the appliance whenever they may be tempted to suck. It comes in different bright colors. The kit comes with an instructional video, the guard and 60 wrist bands. Once the guard is worn the child can not generate vacuum so the sucking is not that satisfying. In the morning you can cut the band off. We advise the use of this device with your child's permission and not force them to use the device.

Actual thumbguard in use

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Current Research on Affects of Thumbsucking:

Thumb Sucking After Age 2 Can Lead to Overbite

The ideal age for discontinuation of thumb sucking
habits is around 24 months.

Kids who continue to suck their fingers or use a pacifier after the age of 2 may be more likely to end up in the orthodontist's office. Also kids who used a pacifier or sucked their fingers or thumb by the age of 4 to 5 were more likely to:

	develop protruding front teeth
	an irregular bite
	affect the development of the jaw
	influence the placement of developing teeth

The current report suggests that even shorter-term sucking can have a notable impact on a children dental health. Research has shown finger or thumb sucking to be more detrimental to the development of teeth than using a pacifier. Parents should do whatever is necessary to prevent their child from developing a finger or thumb sucking habit, even if that means encouraging a pacifier habit for a while. The reason for this is that when the child is 2 to 3 years old the pacifier can be thrown away and the habit stopped, it's very difficult to stop a finger or thumb habit, so it's best to avoid them.

"If a child's sucking habits persist by the time he/she is 36 to 48 mounts of age, professional assistance in habit discontinuation may be warranted to minimize the risk of developing malocclusion". Early dental visits should provide parents with needed guidance to help their children cease such habits by 36 months of age or younger.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Dental Association, Dr. John Warren 2001;132:1685-1693.
(Picture courtesy of Creighton University)

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February 06, 2008

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