Children use sucking behaviors as a calming mechanism. Indeed, a lot of parents depend on pacifiers and teething toys to encourage emotional regulation in their kids. As your child grows, they are likely for them to develop the habit of thumb-sucking. However, a lot of pediatricians tell parents to ignore the habit as children will outgrow it. The majority of toddlers stop this habit between the ages of 2-4 without parental intervention; however, some children continue it. Unfortunately, this habit can have long-term negative side effects when your child still sucks their thumb until the age of four. This post is meant to educate parents about the effects of thumb-sucking and how they can break their child’s habit.
Long-Term Effects of Thumb-Sucking
Below are the common effects of thumb-sucking that will be suffered by children for the long-term:
- Malocclusion. Dental malocclusion is the most serious permanent side effect of thumb-sucking. This condition refers to tooth misalignment that can be seen when the mouth is closed. Open bite and overbite are common kinds of malocclusion. Open bites happen when the bottom and top front teeth become directed outward. This condition may require orthodontic correction or complicate other teeth misalignments that require orthodontic treatment. Overbites also occur when the teeth become directed outward. But, the misalignment is confined only to the upper front teeth.
- Skin issues. Prolonged thumb-sucking can lead to serious skin issues on the preferred thumb. If the skin is exposed to mouth moisture, it becomes vulnerable to other injuries. The used thumb may look calloused. Also, the thumbnail may warp causing peeling or ingrowth. Parents should discourage the habit if the child is experiencing these issues. They can try dripping the thumb in an unpleasant tasting substance.
- Speech impediment. Thumb-sucking also impacts teeth, jaw, and palate development. This means that it can change the way a child eats and speaks. It can cause speech impediments such as lisping, inability to pronounce hard consonant sounds such as T and D. Usually, high-quality speech therapy should be considered alongside correct dental care to fully correct such impediments.
- Social issues. Kids who suck their thumb in public are likely to become the target of ridicule of their peers. Usually, kids do not think before they suck they thumb, thus, parents must look for ways to help their child overcome their habit within the appropriate developmental stage.
What Parents Should Do
When a child’s permanent teeth have arrived, the constant pressure of thumb-sucking can affect them. The complications of this habit will depend on frequency. The first step to helping a child stop sucking their thumb is for parents to realize that the habit is an effort to self-soothe and will usually increase if the child is under some stress. Thus, parents have to help them manage their stress. Also, it is important to involve the child in dealing with issues. Parents must educate them on how it can be harmful to continue to suck their thumb. Pediatric dentists can professionally handle the child’s embarrassment that results from the habit. They are usually the best resource to help you determine a way to stop the habit.
