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How Thumb Sucking Affects Your Child's Teeth

Thumb sucking is a natural reflex that provides comfort to children. Children feel soothed, comfortable and secure when they suck on their thumbs, so it’s not a surprise that quitting this habit is difficult. As a dentist, we see children who carry on this habit for years, and when this habit happens past the loss of baby teeth, it can have long term effects on your child’s mouth.

Once permanent teeth come in, thumb sucking can affect the way that your child’s mouth grows and also changes the roof of the mouth. This is all based on the power with which your child is sucking, which is different from kid to kid. If your child uses their thumb sucking as a security tool, they’re likely not sucking on their thumb vigorously, so damage to their teeth is pretty uncommon. When children thumb suck as a result of being upset, it’s usually pretty aggressively that they suck, which is when the permanent teeth get damaged.

Most children will stop sucking their thumb between the ages of two and four, so as your child’s permanent teeth come in, it’s important that you make an active effort to get them to quit sucking their thumb. Often times, children who suck their thumb after their permanent teeth have come in will notice their teeth being pushed around or coming in crooked, which can create an overbite or an under bite. And depending on the intensity of their sucking, they can notice long term effects that change the shape of the roof of their mouth or makes it more sensitive. Children that suck their thumbs after their permanent teeth grow in will likely require braces.

The team at Encino Pediatric Dental Group can provide your child with guidance on the habits as well as positive things that will benefit your child’s smile. For more guidance on oral health habit counseling, contact our office in Encino.

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