Thumb sucking is one of the most common habits of children. Many babies start sucking on their hands a few hours after they are born and parents may notice this habit growing as their baby grows.
The sucking motion comes naturally to your child and indicates their need to feed. Many babies also suck on their thumb for comfort.
Effect Of Thumb Sucking On Your Child's Dental Health
Although babies appear cute while sucking on their thumb, if they continue this habit when their permanent teeth start coming in, it can lead to dental issues. Persistent thumb sucking can change the way your child's mouth grows. It can change the roof of your child's mouth and also impact the alignment of the teeth, resulting in a cross bite.
A child that sucks their thumb passively may not suffer from long-term oral health issues while a child who sucks their thumb in an aggressive manner is more likely to suffer from long-term oral health development.
If your child stops sucking their thumb by age four, it is not likely that they will suffer from any oral health issues.
What to Do To Prevent Your Child From Thumb Sucking?
At Advanced Dental Associates, Advanced Dental Associates and advice parents to listen to the sounds your child makes when sucking on their thumb. If the thumb sucking is accompanied by loud popping noise, this means your child aggressively sucks their thumb.
If your child doesn't stop sucking on their thumb when you tell them to, do not force them. They may get rid of this habit on their own. But if they don't, here is what you can do:
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Give your child a reward or praise them when they listen to you and take their thumb out of their mouth. Positive reinforcement go a long way with toddlers than scoldings.
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Children also suck on their thumb when they are feeling sad, angry, or stressed. Pay attention to what triggers your child to suck on their thumb and try to resolve that issue.
If you are concerned about your child's thumb sucking habit, don't be. At Advanced Dental Associates, Advanced Dental Associates and are here to help. Schedule an appointment with us by calling us at (210) 714-5589 today.
Dental Blog San Antonio, TX • Advanced Dental Associates We here at Advanced Dental Associates believe in educating our patients about how to best maintain their oral and overall health. Call us today at: (210) 655-2753.
Advanced Dental Associates, 16131 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247-1002 | (210) 714-5589 | advanceddentalsa.com | 5/31/2023 | Tags: dentist San Antonio TX |
Thumb sucking is one of the most common habits of children. Many babies start sucking on their hands a few hours after they are born and parents may notice this habit growing as their baby grows.