Parents living in Virginia are always concerned about the dental health of their children. If someone is reading this, it means the child developed a habit of thumb-sucking, and now, as a parent, you are wondering if it affects oral development and if it is concerning.
In this blog, we are going to answer all the queries of such parents and dissect every aspect of thumb sucking, such as what is expected, the consequences, when to stop the child from thumb sucking, and how to help attain it.
If the child suffers from some misalignment problem, it is suggested to have a word with a family dentist in Springfield to get a better hold of the situation and get the proper treatment.
Thumb Sucking- What is Considered Normal?
It is entirely normal for babies or toddlers to suck on their thumbs. According to ADA, children stop sucking on their thumb between the age of two to four but may return to it when the child is going through anxiety and stress.
As the child grows, putting fingers or objects in their mouth is their way of exploring and understanding the world around them. Some children even use thumb-sucking as a comfort source, much like how some children utilize blankets or stuffed toys.
Consequences of Thumb Sucking
Thumb sucking itself is pretty standard, but if it persists beyond the initial age period, it does cause some problems, but merely when the habit becomes chronic and prolonged, such as:
- Difficulties with swallowing and chewing.
- Speech problems
- Misalignment of teeth (misaligned bites)
- Problems with the roof of the mouth.
- Backbite
- Overjet or Overbite
- Irregular wear on some tooth surfaces.
- For school-going children, thumb-sucking attracts unnecessary attention, and peers and siblings often tease, which results in low self-esteem and confidence.
When and How is Thumb Sucking Need to be Stopped?
In order to avoid numerous dental health problems, the ADA suggests that thumb sucking must be stopped by the age of four.
But, an early intervention from the parent is needed if the child is vigorously and constantly sucking on their thumb because then the risk of developing some dental problem is pretty high, and it will be wise to intervene and restrain the habit.
If a child stops at an early age, the possibility of the habit turning more severe gets significantly minimized.
If the parents observe any changes in the bite alignment or teeth in general, they should consult with a dentist immediately.
How You Can Help the Child Stop Thumb Sucking
Luckily, there are some excellent choices you can make as a parent to stop the child from thumb-sucking or turning towards some other healthier alternatives.
Try Positive Reinforcement instead of Relying on Punishment
If you want the child to stop thumb-sucking, try positive reinforcement instead of punishing. Children often suck on their thumb because of some anxiety or stress problem, and punishment would certainly not help and may increase it further as the child tries to cope with the additional stress now.
Try to notice what is triggering the child to suck on the thumb because there can be particular situations where the child turns towards the thumb-sucking habit.
Switch their Coping Mechanism with some Healthier Alternative
Instead of thumb-sucking, try switching to a healthier alternative to cope with anxiety and stress, such as indulging in some arts and crafts work, holding onto the favorite blanket, or encouraging the child to talk to you about it if the child is old enough to express feelings. Such activities provide much-needed distraction and comfort from worries.
Get Help from the Experts!
Suppose the parent is having trouble stopping the child from thumb-sucking. In that case, it is recommended that the parent get help from experts who will provide some great tips and techniques to manage the particular behavior of the child and even suggest some dental products that can be of great help.
