Thumb Sucking

Thumb or finger sucking are habits that occur in infants. Children usually give up thumb-sucking by the age of four. If the child continues past the age when their permanent teeth start to erupt, they may develop crooked teeth and a malformed roof of their mouth. This results from the frequency, duration, intensity and position of the thumb in the child’s mouth. This can also affect speech and the position of the upper and lower jaw.

Breaking the Habit:

• Wait until the time is right (low stress).
• Motivate your child (show examples of what could happen to their teeth, and fingers/thumbs).
• Use a reward system (small incentives will encourage your child to stick with it!).