Why kids suck things
Children suck their thumb, or other fingers to soothe, relax and often put themselves to sleep and sometimes During times of stress and anxiety. It’s a natural instinct and normal behaviour commonly in younger children, the same way that other children cuddle a toy or blanket.
Why is it bad….
There aren’t any serious conditions that come from thumb sucking and sucking fingers or a pacifier prior to teeth erupting usually doesn’t cause any issues, however if continued beyond the age of four or once permanent teeth erupt oral problems such as
Palate issues – at times a higher palate can develop due to excessive pressure of the tongue and finger
Speech problems – thumb sucking adversely affected the alignment of teeth and jaw development, which may lead to lisp and speech impediments. T’s & D’s are more challenging to pronounce and this may affect articulation when speaking and require speech therapy.
Misaligned bite – is the growth of the upper jaw, its natural shape is often modified growing narrow
Overjet – is the space between upper and lower front teeth in the front to back dimension. This occurs when excessive forward pressure of the finger while sucking.
How to prevent thumb sucking
It is important like anything with children it is approached kindly. Gently remind your child every time you see a thumb or finger in their mouth.
Give your child something to distract them, such as a favourite stuffed toy to hold or play with
Use a chart and/or rewards system. Some options are to mark the chart when they go a certain amount of time, an hour or two or a day, without putting their thumb in their mouth. If they are resistant to the idea of stopping, they could mark the chart when they stop sucking without complaining after being reminded.
Give your child plenty of encouragement and praise when they go a while without sucking their thumb or remember to stop without a reminder.
For older children, you could put a band-aid over the finger they usually suck on. This could be enough to help them remember their goal.
If the thumb sucking occurs during the night, it may be helpful to cover their hand with a sock.
If you are worried about your child, please book a consultation with us.
