As an Oral Health Therapist, I'm passionate about educating children about all things dentally related. However, sometimes the focus is on you mom and dad! Yes, YOU, reading this right now!
So, you may be asking yourself, why is my child sucking their thumb? Who wants to taste cheese for 15 minutes whilst sucking their thumb! Well, its not as simple as that. Let me educate you on why thumb sucking needs to be addressed, pronto!
Thumb sucking may seem harmless and even adorable when your child is young, but did you know that this seemingly innocent habit can have detrimental effects on their oral health? In this blog post, we'll explore the dangers of thumb sucking and its impact on the oral cavity. As well as what you can do to stop this habit right in its tracks.
On my last blog post we discussed the importance of teaching your child to brush twice a day, and how to get this message across in a playful and logical manner. You may remember the word "poop" from that blog (never seems to fail to make me giggle that word, poop)
Anyway, you might be wondering, "What does thumb sucking have to do with all of this?" Well, thumb sucking introduces a whole new set of problems you need to be aware of. When children suck their thumbs, they create a warm and moist environment that is perfect for bacteria to thrive. The constant pressure and suction exerted on the teeth and surrounding tissues can lead to various oral health issues.
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Malocclusion: Prolonged thumb sucking can cause misalignment of the teeth, leading to a condition called malocclusion. This can result in an overbite, underbite, or crossbite, which can affect the child's ability to chew properly and even impact their speech development. I don't even want to tell you about how much this costs to fix later in the child's life.
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Palatal Changes: The pressure from thumb sucking can also cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth (palate). The constant pushing can lead to the development of an open bite, where the upper and lower teeth don't meet when the child bites down. This can further complicate their ability to chew food effectively. In severe cases this can also cause an effect on the child's sinus leading to breathing difficulties.
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Speech Impediments: Thumb sucking can interfere with the proper alignment of the teeth and affect the development of speech. The tongue needs to make contact with the roof of the mouth to produce certain sounds, and if the palate is altered due to thumb sucking, it can lead to speech impediments such as lisping or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds. Tho do i have your attenthon now?
Now that we have covered the damage this seemingly innocent habit can cause, lets get to the part you're here for, how do we break this bad habit? Here are a few strategies to consider:
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Encourage positive reinforcement: Children tend to repeat behaviours when they receive praise. So, praise your child when they refrain from thumb sucking and reward their efforts. Positive reinforcement can go a long way in motivating them to quit the habit. Utilise what they love to your advantage. This could be extra play time with their favourite toy, or even a reward such as a small toy or more of their favourite snack. Heck, I've had parents promise their children that Santa will drop off extra toys simply if they stop thumb sucking, and it works!
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Identify triggers: Observe when and why your child tends to suck their thumb. Identifying triggers such as boredom, stress, or fatigue can help you find alternative ways to address their emotional needs. When you have identified these, utilise the environments that are unique to your child that promote the opposite. For example, if boredom is the trigger, play with them or try to engage them with a challenging yet educational activity for their age.
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Provide distractions: Engage your child in activities that keep their hands occupied, such as puzzles, drawing, or playing with toys. Distractions can divert their attention from thumb sucking. Try not to distract them with thoughtless activities such as watching TV.
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Incorporate mild punishments: Condition your child to an unfavourable response when they suck their thumb. This could be simply telling them off every time you see it happening, but just as equally praising them when they're not. If you are not balancing the punishment with praise, they'll outsmart you and go behind your back. They're a lot smarter than you may think.
- Seek professional guidance: If the habit persists or causes significant oral health issues, consult a dental professional. They can provide guidance and recommend appropriate strategies to help your child break the habit.
The earlier on you combat this habit, the faster it will diminish, and the more likely you will be successful in saving your child from oral health problems that could last a lifetime.
Joseph Hanna - Oral Health Therapist and Co-Founder of Bumbl Co
Helping Healthy Habits