“What can I do to stop my 10-year-old from sucking his thumb?”
My 10-year-old son still sucks a thumb, and I'm trying to make him stop because he's too old to be doing this. What should we do to stop this? I know he can have serious problems with his teeth if he doesn't break the habit.
5 Answers
There is a product called Mavala that we have found to be very successful in aiding thumb sucking stoppage. It can be purchased online and is usually very effective
Short of cutting off his thumb there is very little YOU can do to make HIM stop. Digit sucking is a habit and like other habits (drinking, smoking, twirling hair) the perpetrator must be the one who wants to stop!! If your son is truly on board, then there are thumb guards, intraoral habit breakers (fixed or removable). You may want to guide him in the thought process of him wanting to stop......
Also, there is a good likelihood at 10yo any orthodontic damage due to thumb sucking is already present so keep in the back of your mind: it is easier to correct an orthodontic problem than it is to correct a psychologic problem ;))
Also, there is a good likelihood at 10yo any orthodontic damage due to thumb sucking is already present so keep in the back of your mind: it is easier to correct an orthodontic problem than it is to correct a psychologic problem ;))
A thumb habit is challenging to stop. First, you can't force or threaten your son to stop. Have a conversation with him as to why he sucks his thumb. Maybe he'll be willing to share that with you. Then, ask if he would like to stop (you may want to point out that other kids his age have already stopped. Here, peer pressure can work for you.) I got my daughter (a gold medal thumb sucker) to stop by offering rewards. A small prize is she could stop for a day, a bigger prize for a week, and a big reward for a month. I put a calendar on the refrigerator and had her put a gold star on every day she was successful. It takes 3 weeks to stop a habit, so be patient. Finally, to help your son, your local dentist or orthodontist can place an appliance in his mouth to "remind" him to pull his thumb out if he absentmindedly falls back into the habit. You'll definitely need professional help to get him to stop.
Hope this helps.
Steven Chamish, DDS
Hope this helps.
Steven Chamish, DDS
There are appliances that can help, but I highly recommend to see an orthodontist.
Your 10 year old may need psychological counselling to break his thumb sucking habit. Sometimes if a dentist explains to him and shows him how thumb sucking causes maligned teeth, he could stop on his own.
