Thumb Sucking

Thumb, or finger sucking, is a habit that occurs with many infants. Your child will usually give it up naturally by the age of four. If the sucking habit continues beyond the time when permanent teeth start to erupt, your child may develop crooked teeth and a malformed palate (roof of the mouth). This results from pressure applied by the thumb on the teeth and roof of the mouth.

The severity of the problem depends on frequency, intensity, duration and also the position in which the thumb is placed in the mouth. The relationship between the upper and lower jaws may also be affected. Speech defects can occur from misaligned teeth resulting from thumb and/or finger-sucking.

Treatment:

The best prevention is to get your newborn to take up a dummy instead of thumb or finger sucking. Although prolonged use of the dummy can lead to similar problems, it at least is not attached to the child and can be removed.

Children should be helped to give up the habit before they enter school to prevent teasing.

Timing of treatment is important. Your child should be willing to give up thumb or finger sucking. If your child is not willing to stop, therapy is not usually indicated. Pressure you apply to stop may only lead to resistance and lack of cooperation. Try again later.

Give your child attention and understanding and gently discourage the habit. Reminders such as a band-aid on the thumb can help.

Offer rewards for days when your child is successful. Praise your child when successful.

After daytime sucking is controlled

Help your child to give up the sucking habit during sleep. This is usually an involuntary process and a glove, sock, or thumb/finger guard can help stop the habit.

Take one step at a time. Encourage your child not to suck during one daytime activity, like story time or television watching. Gradually add another activity until daytime sucking is controlled.

If these actions are not successful, see us for further support. By the time your child's permanent teeth begin to erupt (at around 6 years of age), it should be brought to our attention. We may have other suggestions such as a reminder bar appliance that sits where the thumb is usually placed. This breaks the habit very quickly.

Back to Children's Oral Health