It can feel impossible trying to stay up to date with the best practices for parenting and understanding key milestones of your child’s development, especially when it comes to their oral health. While some parents try to keep their children from sucking their thumb altogether, others may advocate for letting them do it until they stop on their own. So, what option is correct? The answer isn’t so crystal clear! Read on to learn what pediatric dentists have to say about thumb and pacifier-sucking (non-nutritive habits) and when it’s time to help your child grow out of them.
Is It Okay for My Child to Suck Their Thumb?
The reality is that thumb-sucking is 100% normal and a natural self-soothing habit that babies develop and continue into toddlerhood. As your child grows, you may find them putting other objects in their mouth as well, which is another way for them to explore their surroundings and gain a better understanding of the world. In many cases, children naturally ween themselves out of this behavior, typically by the age of three, but you may find that they occasionally do it when they’re stressed or anxious.
When & How Should My Child Stop Sucking Their Thumb?
Once your child reaches three years old, if they haven’t stopped or cut back on non-nutritive habits like thumb and pacifier-sucking, it may be time to intervene. Your pediatric dentist in Hinsdale recommends starting the process of curbing this habit between 18 and 22 months due to the fact that most children have a good sense of object permanence after that. By this time, many children have even found other ways to self-soothe as well.
You can use these helpful tips, along with guidance from their pediatric dentist in Hinsdale, to help them break their thumb-sucking habit:
- Positively reinforce and reward them when they don’t turn to thumb-sucking as a soothing habit. Punishment or criticism may only increase these habits due to an increase in stress and anxiety.
- Replace their behavior with a healthy alternative like using fidget toys, holding your hand, grabbing their favorite toy, or if they’re old enough, simply talking to you about how they feel. This can take time, so be patient!
- Gentle reminders can also be helpful when breaking habits, because your child may not be aware that they’re doing them.
The best advice you can get is from a pediatric dentist, as they’re specially trained experts on treating children’s dental problems as well as spotting and addressing the early signs of developmental oral health concerns.
Are Their Consequences to Thumb-Sucking?
It’s true that thumb-sucking is a positive habit, but past the age of three, it can have negative impacts on your child’s oral development. Some of these adverse impacts include:
- Speech difficulties
- Bite misalignment, including overbite
- Irregular wear and tear on the surface of teeth
- A narrow palate
If you’re concerned about your child’s non-nutritive habits, call their pediatric dentist to discuss your concerns. They will be able to help you move forward in a way that’s positive for both your child’s emotional health as well as their oral health!
About the Practice
At Brush Pediatric Dentistry, our team is comprised of five board-certified pediatric dentists who are experts at diagnosing and treating developmental oral health concerns in children. In addition to their expertise, many of them are moms themselves, allowing them to empathize with the difficult realities of being a parent and trying to break habits like thumb-sucking. To schedule an appointment, visit Brush Pediatric Dentistry’s website or call 630-504-2223.