“Is thumb sucking bad for my child's teeth?”
My daughter is 6 years old and she still sucks her thumb every night while trying to fall asleep. I have heard that this can have a permanent lasting effect on her teeth. Is this true?
10 Answers
Thumb sucking can cause issues with the alignment of the teeth. It is best to try and stop this habit as soon as possible to prevent improper eruption of teeth and poor alignment.
Hello,
What you have heard is correct.
Thumb sucking habits affect permanent dentition by affecting the shape of the upper jaw. Please have your child evaluated by a dentist who may advice on a few things to do to stop this habit.
What you have heard is correct.
Thumb sucking habits affect permanent dentition by affecting the shape of the upper jaw. Please have your child evaluated by a dentist who may advice on a few things to do to stop this habit.
It is true! Thumb sucking can affect a growing dentition and face structure. If at home methods have not worked, I would set up an appt with her dentist and/or orthodontist to see if she is a good candidate for a thumb habit appliance.
Time to stop the habit unless you want expensive orthodontal bills later on. Try putting boxing gloves on her hands at bed time or soak her thumb in something that is bad tasting like pickle juice.
Thumb sucking can "orthodontically" move the bone and teeth in the area causing the need for braces in the future depending upon how her teeth and jaws relate. Speak to your pediatric dentist to suggest alternatives for this self comforting habit.
Yes, thumb sucking for a prolonged period is bad for baby teeth, which are erupting. It also causes a mis-shaped palate and further narrowing of the upper jaw and flaring of maxillary teeth. Thumb sucking, if not avoided at early stages, may pose malpositioning of permanent teeth, which may end up in need of orthodontic treatment. It also affects the facial profile of a person with a prolonged thumb sucking habit.
Yes, that is true. Your child should see a dentist for evaluation and recommendations.
Yes it is true. The constant presence of the thumb in the mouth can deform her dental arch as she’s growing. They do make appliances that are placed in the mouth to prevent thumb sucking. A pedodontist would be the Dental specialist you should see with your daughter. Wishing you both good health!
I'm sure a psychologist would say that thumb sucking is a natural occurrence, but to an orthodontist and a speech therapist, it is an Achilles heel. Something that needs to be treated as aggressively as possible in order to circumvent more critical problems developing during adolescence, which include malformation of the jaw itself for positions of the teeth, lower self-esteem due to peer pressure, and faulty speech pronunciation, which carries over to later years in life.
Yes. Thumb sucking after 3 years old can cause changes in the palate and teeth that may need correction later on.
