Thumb sucking – what are the impacts for my child’s teeth?

The facts about thumb sucking

How vigorously your child sucks their thumb will determine the amount of restriction or deviation that is caused by having thumbs or fingers in the mouth when the permanent teeth are pushing through (erupting) the gums to form.

Sucking is a natural reflex in infants and young children. They can use thumbs, fingers, dummies, pacifiers and other objects to suck against to give them feelings of security and happiness at difficult times. For some infants sucking is so relaxing that they can develop a habit of thumb sucking to help them fall asleep.

When thumb sucking continues after the eruption of the permanent teeth, it can cause problems with the proper growth of the jaw, mouth and tooth alignment (most often causing “buck teeth”). The intensity with which your child sucks on fingers or thumbs will determine whether or not dental problems may result.

Children who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have dental difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs; mainly due to the amount of vacuum and pressure that is created by their sucking. Usually, kids stop naturally between the ages of two and four whilst others will likely stop due to peer pressure when they are school-aged.

Pacifiers

Pacifiers are no substitute for thumb sucking; anything that is vigorously sucked will cause disruptions to oral development and teeth alignment. However, from a parenting perspective, use of a pacifier can be controlled and modified more easily than the thumb or finger habit.

Got concerns? Come and see us

If you have concerns about thumb-sucking or giving your child a pacifier, consult the friendly team at Kowhai Dental. They can give you advice on warning signs to look out for and help you with information on what to do if you need to help your child break the habit.

To book an appointment, pop in to see us on Maunu Road, give us a call at 09 430 0707, or book online.