Breaking the Habit: Tackling Thumb Sucking and Pacifiers for Healthy Dental Development
Thumb and finger sucking is a natural act for all babies. It soothes and calms them because it reminds them of nursing. Many parents switch to pacifiers to prevent thumb-sucking from becoming a habit. The problem is that if a child continues the habit–whether it’s a thumb or a pacifier– it can cause serious orthodontic problems that require correction later on. Getting some children to kick this habit can be a real challenge! Here are some tips from Ponte Vedra Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics to help.
Why You Should Help Your Child Kick the Habit
Most children will stop using a pacifier on their own by about the age of three or four. Thumb sucking, however, can last past the age of four if parents don’t intervene to help their child break the habit. The reason why this is so important is that when sucking aids are used too long, they can start to cause some serious dental complications.
Thumb sucking or pacifier use that goes on for a long time (past the age of four) can start to reshape your child’s facial structure. This can interfere with the standard jaws, teeth, or palate development. In severe cases, it can lead to breathing issues or trouble swallowing. Sucking aids can even cause the jaw to develop out of alignment.
Another risk is that the habit will cause the teeth to slant incorrectly or protrude forward. This can lead to bite issues that can impact speech and chewing. Mouth sores, tooth decay, and a narrowing of the roof of the mouth are also risks that the habit carries.
According to research published in Case Reports in Dentistry, an anterior open bite (AOB) and a posterior crossbite are the two most common malocclusions caused by thumb sucking. Correcting these severe problems can require using palate extenders, braces, or other orthodontic interventions.
The sooner you can help your child kick the habit of thumb-sucking or pacifier use, the less likely they are to experience any of these oral health problems.
Tips for Breaking the Habit
Scolding or punishing your child for thumb-sucking or pacifier use might upset them, but it’s probably not going to get them to break the habit. You’re much more likely to have success with positive reinforcement, encouragement, and some good old-fashioned distraction techniques!
Positive reinforcement and praise can go a long way in encouraging young kids. Be sure to praise your child for not sucking his thumb or using a pacifier during the day. Star charts and other reward systems can work well with some kids.
Some children use thumb-sucking or a pacifier to relieve boredom. You can alleviate this by giving them a fun activity with their hands or a favorite toy to play with. If you keep them occupied and distracted, it will break the habit.
Once they’re old enough, introducing more hard foods (think crunch carrot sticks) into their diet can give them crucial oral feedback and help them understand normal oral functioning on an intuitive level. A lot of kids will stop thumb-sucking or pacifier use on their own when parents introduce more hard foods to them.
Early Intervention is Best
Some parents might believe that oral problems will be corrected when their child’s baby teeth fall out and their permanent teeth come in. That’s not the case, however. The longer that thumb-sucking and pacifier use continues, the more likely it is that your child will need early orthodontic intervention. Breaking the habit will help save you money on costly orthodontic treatments down the road and will set your child on a path toward healthy teeth in the future!
Contact Us for Ponte Vedre Family Dentistry
If you have any questions about thumb sucking or pacifier use, or if it’s time for your child’s next dental check-up, give us a call at Ponte Vedre Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics to schedule an appointment! We look forward to meeting you and your family!