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What To Do When Your Child Is Still Sucking Their Thumb

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Thumb sucking might seem like a normal behavior for children, and there are some benefits to the behavior. But if your child's thumb-sucking goes on for too long, he or she may suffer from oral health problems and may even begin to see some skeletal decay. To avoid this, you will want to break the habit.

Why Children Suck Thumbs

If your child is under the age of 3, thumb sucking is considered normal. But after your child is older than 3, this behavior will need to be corrected. Thumb sucking is a behavior that helps children feel happy and secure. Thumb sucking is a behavior that children use to help themselves fall asleep. For this reason, if you can find other ways to soothe your child and help him or her fall asleep, you might be able to reduce your child's thumb sucking. 

How Praise Can Help

When your child is not sucking his or her thumb, make sure to praise and reward him or her. One idea is to create a chart and to put a sticker up on the chart for each day that your child doesn't suck his or her thumb.

When Your Child Starts Thumb Sucking

When you do notice your child sucking his or her thumb, try to comfort him or her to calm nerves. If you think your child is bored, look for a distraction. If it's not time to sleep, you might play a game to distract your child from thumb sucking. 

When to Visit a Dentist

If your child is still struggling with sucking his or her thumb, the trip to the pediatric dentist might help. Ask the dentist if there are any treatments or other options that can keep your child from sucking his or her thumb. Thumb sucking is an activity that can become a habit that is harder to break as your child becomes older.

How Thumb Sucking Can Lead to an Open Bite

If thumb sucking does not stop, your child may even develop a skeletal open bite. Then, you may need a dentist or orthodontist to correct the open bite. In extreme cases, jaw surgery may be needed to correct the bite. 

When Corrective Appliances Are Necessary

The dentist might recommend a corrective device for your child. However, it is better to stop the habit because children are not likely to wear corrective devices consistently. But if all else has failed, this might be the last, best option.


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