14 Feb How thumb sucking can affect early dental health

Many kids at some point and time will suck their thumbs. It may happen for only a few days or weeks during certain developmental stages, it may happen intermittently throughout the first 2-5 years of life, or it may be a consistent part of a child’s development. While thumb sucking is normal and is something parents should expect to observe, there is some concern that surrounds this common activity. The fear is that thumb sucking will affect the overall health of the child and that it may also have a negative impact on their dental health and oral development.

The Dual Side of Thumb Sucking

“Not all thumb sucking results in damage to the teeth or mouth. For example, passively holding the thumb in the mouth doesn’t typically cause damage. However, active thumb sucking with a lot of motion can cause damage to primary (baby) teeth, though this usually corrects itself as the permanent teeth come in. Persistent, vigorous thumb sucking can sometimes cause misalignment of your child’s permanent teeth and affect the jaw or the shape and roof of the mouth” (Healthline).  It is this damage that is the basis for concern to parents and some pediatricians when it comes to constant and prolonged thumb sucking.

Why Do Kids Suck Their Thumbs?

Thumb sucking starts among most children as a soothing, reflexive behavior. It begins in the womb, before birth as it has been documented multiple times and is of course seen in infants and toddlers all around the world. Thumb sucking usually starts as a way to self-soothe and fall asleep and usually is seen in babies. In older children thumb sucking continues to be a self-soothing method that helps them deal with stress and uncomfortable situations such as being upset, hungry, frightened, or bored. According to the American Dental Association, most children will give up thumb sucking on their between 2 and 4 years of age. Many parents choose to allow thumb sucking to continue until their children reach 4 years of age and then begin working to break the habit so their child is no long sucking their thumb when they start attending school.

Thumb Sucking vs. Pacifiers

One thing parents need to be aware of is that exchanging their child’s thumb sucking habit for a pacifier habit is just as bad and possibly even worse for their child in the long run. Pacifier sucking creates the same potential for tooth damage that thumb sucking can. They also are often sucked and chewed on more since there are no pain signals to make the child stop aggressive sucking. However, many children will simply move from sucking the pacifier to sucking their thumbs so it just adds more work and more frustration for both the child and the parents.

Long-Term Effects of Thumb Sucking on the Mouth

Vigorous thumb sucking will often affect teeth, gums, rood of the mouth, tongue, and overall structure of the mouth. It may cause any of the following:

• Overbite, under bite, and other issues with teeth alignment and positioning
• Changes to jaw and gum shape, which can make eating and talking more difficult
• Sensitivity of the roof of the mouth, the tongue, the gums, or even the throat

Most of these issues will either correct themselves or not happen at all if thumb sucking stops before the age of 5. However extreme thumb sucking that last for several years can bring about these undesirable side effects.

Closing Thoughts

It is important to remember that most kids will suck their thumbs at some point during their early childhood. Thumb sucking usually starts as a way to self-soothe and fall asleep in babies and then becomes a way to deal with stress and uncomfortable situations that toddlers may face as they get older. Most kids stop sucking their thumb on their own before the age of 5 and can avoid major dental impact. However, with severe and prolonged thumb sucking, damage can be done to the teeth, gums, and mouth. This is why it is important to have your child get regular dental check ups as soon as they are 1-2 years old. It will go a long way in protecting their overall dental health and oral development.