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As parents, we understand that watching our children grow and develop can be both rewarding and challenging.
One common habit many young children develop is thumb sucking, a natural reflex that provides comfort and security. While thumb sucking is normal and harmless for infants and toddlers, prolonged sucking can lead to dental and oral health issues as your child ages.
With that in mind, we will explore the reasons behind thumb sucking, the potential consequences of letting the habit go unchecked, and effective strategies to prevent and break the habit.
But before we get started, if you’re worried about your child’s thumb sucking habit, it’s essential to approach this issue with patience, understanding, and encouragement. Every child is unique and may require different strategies to overcome this habit.
So, without further ado, let’s explore why they’re doing it in the first place.
Why Do Children Suck Their Thumbs?
Children suck their thumbs as a natural reflex that provides comfort, security, and self-soothing.
This behavior often begins during infancy and can continue into early childhood as a way to cope with stress, hunger, anxiety, or boredom. Thumb sucking also helps young children explore their surroundings and develop oral motor skills. However, as children grow and learn other coping mechanisms, they typically outgrow this habit.
It’s essential for parents to gently guide their children towards healthier alternatives as they mature, ensuring that the thumb sucking habit doesn’t persist and cause potential dental or oral health issues.
What Are the Dangers of Letting a Thumb Sucking Habit Go Unchecked?
If a thumb sucking habit goes unchecked, it can lead to various dental and oral health issues, particularly if the habit persists beyond the age of five or six when the permanent teeth start to emerge.
Some potential consequences of prolonged thumb sucking include:
- Malocclusion: Prolonged thumb sucking can lead to malocclusion, a misalignment of the teeth. The most common form of malocclusion caused by thumb sucking is an anterior open bite, where the upper and lower front teeth do not meet when the mouth is closed. This can make it difficult to bite or chew food properly.
- Overjet: Overjet, also known as “bucked teeth,” occurs when the upper front teeth protrude further than the lower front teeth. This misalignment can result from the constant pressure exerted by the thumb on the upper teeth, pushing them outward.
- Speech problems: Misaligned teeth and an altered palate shape due to thumb sucking can contribute to speech difficulties. Children with persistent thumb-sucking habits may develop lisps, have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, or struggle with articulation.
The good news for parents is that plenty of scientifically-proven strategies can help children stop thumb sucking. So let’s cover some of the most commonly-used thumb sucking prevention strategies.
Effective Thumb Sucking Prevention Strategies
As mentioned, there are several strategies you can use to help your child stop thumb sucking. The one you opt for depends on your child’s age, personality, and parenting style.
Positive Reinforcement and Rewards
Positive reinforcement and rewards can be an effective way to help children stop thumb sucking. Research has shown that rewarding children for not sucking their thumb can help them break the habit.
You can create a reward chart, offering small prizes or privileges when the child refrains from thumb sucking for a certain period. This method works by strengthening the child’s motivation to stop the behavior.
Habit Reversal Training
Habit reversal training is a behavior modification technique proven effective in reducing thumb sucking.
It involves teaching the child to recognize when they are engaging in the behavior and then encouraging them to perform a competing action, such as clenching their fist or holding a toy. These actions help break the association between the habit and the associated comfort or pleasure.
Aversion Therapy – Bitter Paint
Aversion therapy makes the thumb sucking experience unpleasant for the child, thus decreasing their motivation to engage in the behavior. One example is applying a bitter-tasting substance to the child’s thumb.
While this method can effectively reduce thumb sucking, it’s essential to be cautious and use child-safe products specifically designed for this purpose. Popular products and brand names available commercially include Mavala Stop, Thum, and Control It!, which all offer different bitter-tasting formulas to prevent thumb sucking and nail-biting.
As a parent, you should also explain the purpose of the bitter paint to the child and provide positive reinforcement when they resist the urge to suck their thumb.
Appliance Therapy
Appliance therapy refers to the use of dental appliances or devices designed to help stop thumb sucking and address the associated oral health issues. These appliances, which must be prescribed and fitted by a dentist or orthodontist, often create a physical barrier between the thumb and the palate or make thumb sucking uncomfortable or less pleasurable.
There are three principal appliances:
- Palatal crib: A custom-fitted orthodontic device made of metal wires or acrylic cemented to the upper molars. It features a semi-circular or rectangular loop that sits on the roof of the mouth, just behind the upper front teeth. This design prevents the thumb from comfortably resting on the palate, making thumb sucking less satisfying for the child.
- Bluegrass appliance: A custom-fitted orthodontic device that includes a small, bead-like roller attached to the roof of the mouth. The child can play with the roller using their tongue, substituting for the oral stimulation gained from thumb sucking. The roller also creates a barrier that makes thumb sucking uncomfortable.
- Thumb guard: A removable plastic or silicone device that fits over the child’s thumb, making it difficult to suck on. The guard is typically secured with straps or bands around the wrist. By creating a physical barrier, the thumb guard helps to break the habit by making thumb sucking less pleasurable.
Appliance therapy can be an effective method for stopping thumb sucking and addressing the associated dental issues. However, it is essential to consult a dentist or orthodontist to determine the most suitable appliance for your child and ensure proper fitting and usage.
Talk To Us Today Regarding Your Child’s Thumb Sucking Issue
Thumb sucking is a perfectly natural habit. However, if your child continues to suck their thumb beyond the age of five when adult teeth begin to appear, it may lead to potentially serious dental problems. In short, the earlier you address the issue, the better.
At Ontario Kids N Braces, we work closely with parents to develop effective strategies to help children stop thumb sucking.
From starting with home-based therapies such as bitter paint solutions to fitting oral appliances, as your dedicated specialists, we will take the time to listen to you or your child, answer all questions, and thoroughly explain treatment options and costs.
So if you’re concerned about your child’s thumb sucking habit, call us today at (909) 466-4611 to schedule a consultation.
References:
Tanaka, O. M., Oliveira, W., Galarza, M., Aoki, V. C. G., & Bertaiolli, B. (2016). Breaking the Thumb Sucking Habit: When Compliance Is Essential. Case Reports in Dentistry, 2016, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6010615
Borrie, F., Bearn, D. R., Innes, N., & Iheozor-Ejiofor, Z. (2015). Interventions for the cessation of non-nutritive sucking habits in children. The Cochrane Library, 2021(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd008694.pub2
Azrin, N. H., Nunn, R., & Frantz-Renshaw, S. (1982). Habit reversal vs negative practice treatment of self-destructive oral habits (biting, chewing, or licking of the lips, cheeks, tongue, or palate). Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 13(1), 49–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(82)90035-0
Diwanji, A., Jain, P., Doshi, J. R., Somani, P. R., & Mehta, D. (2013b). Modified Bluegrass Appliance: A Nonpunitive Therapy for Thumb Sucking in Pediatric Patients—A Case Report with Review of the Literature. Case Reports in Dentistry. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/537120