Thumb Sucking The Good, The Bad And The Normal

Parents have so many concerns and they wish to make sure that their children grow to become healthy kids without developing any habit that could affect their development in any manner. One such concern is Thumb Sucking which parents worry about when their babies grow and become toddlers says the dentist in Oshawa.

There is nothing to worry about thumb sucking and you can always consult the child’s dentist in ON or a doctor when you need. Also, the good news is that most children stop sucking their thumbs before pre-school.

Good, The Bad And The Normal

It’s to be noted that thumb sucking, finger sucking, and use of a pacifier is completely acceptable for the infants. According to the American Dental Association, this is a natural reflex for an infant which gives the baby comfort and as he grows, it may help him feel happy and secure. It can also be soothing and it induces sleep.

How Long is it Acceptable?

There have been instances where thumb sucking was seen in older children and it is obviously inappropriate. However, the pertinent question is when is the right time to discourage or stop them. According to the ADA, the right time to stop the kids from thumb sucking is by the age of 4. Prolonged sucking can begin to affect the child’s mouth and developing jaw and teeth causing permanent teeth to be misaligned.

How to Discourage Them?

• Offer a pacifier to infants as they are easy to take away.
• Make a chart and reward system for tracking the child’s progress for quitting.
• Encourage and praise the child when they try to stop thumb sucking.
• Visit the child’s dentist for learning about the positive effects of stopping the habit.

Usually the above mentioned tricks work, but when they don’t, a dental appliance or crib may be placed as a part of the treatment in the roof of the mouth for achieving a change in behavior. The sooner the habit is stopped, the better the chances that the bite will correct itself.