When and How to Stop Thumb Sucking?

Sucking habits are normal for new born babies and toddlers 2-3 years of age. Thumb and finger sucking offers these tots a level of comfort allowing them to self sooth, relax and sleep.

Most children stop their non-nutritive sucking habit at two and three years of age. If your child stops his habit before the age of 5 then the negative effects of the habit should be minimal.

After the age of 5 children whom still have a sucking habit may experience a negative self-image as well as distortions to developing mouth, teeth, palate, face and speech.

At this age parents can help their child by incorporating a positive training methods much like potty training.

The American Dental Association recommends:

• Praise children for not sucking, instead of scolding them when they do.
• If a child is sucking their thumb when feeling insecure or needing comfort, focus instead on correcting the cause of the anxiety and provide comfort to your child.
• If a child is sucking on their thumb because of boredom, try getting the child’s attention with a fun activity.
• Involve older children in the selection of a means to cease thumb sucking.
• The pediatric dentist can offer encouragement to the child and explain what could happen to the child’s teeth if he/she does not stop sucking.
• Only if these tips are ineffective, remind the child of the habitby bandaging the thumb or putting a sock/glove on the hand at night.
• Other orthodontics for appliances are available.

The British Orthodontic Society recommends the same advice as ADA.

If you have tried positive training methods and reminders, your child needs additional help then your orthodontist can help. Orthodontic appliance options that can be fixed into your child’s mouth and can help stop the habit while correcting some of the negative effects of sucking habits by normalizing the position of the bones and teeth. Once orthodontic correction is achieved and habit has ceased your child will have greater self-confidence. Correction will also help improve mastication and speech.