Babies use their mouths as a way to explore the world around them. One of the ways is by sucking their thumb. Thumb sucking is a natural reflex for humans and often starts at a very young age. Some babies start sucking as early as in the womb, while some start after they are born. It can easily turn into a habit as babies find sucking their thumb comforting – it makes them feel safe and secure. Many toddlers use sucking when they are going to sleep or want some food – which is normal behavior. Most children give up the habit between ages one to three as they start developing speech and mobility. If they continue beyond the age of three or when permanent teeth start coming in, it’s important for parents to actively help them get rid of the habit.
Is a pacifier a good alternative to thumb-sucking?
It’s perfectly normal for your little one to suck his/her thumb. Many parents chose to soothe their baby with a pacifier when they cry, at night, or in public areas. While it may seem easier to break the thumb-sucking habit by offering your baby a pacifier to suck on, the risks outweigh the benefits. How thumb sucking and pacifier use affects your child’s teeth depends on the duration and the intensity with which they do it. Prolonged use of pacifiers might lead to dental concerns and you may need to invest in braces and other treatments later on in life.
Dental impacts
- Overbite:
If children suck on their thumb or a pacifier beyond age 2 to 4, this behavior may affect the lining up of their teeth and the shape of their mouth leading to an overbite. Infants with overbites often tend to shift their jaw to one side, which can cause mismatched jaw growth. There’s a good chance their bite will correct itself if they stop sucking at the age of 3 years or before their permanent front teeth come in. Most often, braces can be used to fix this problem. Headgear and other modification devices may be used in other cases.
2. Open bite:
When babies use pacifiers or actively thumb suck, their teeth don’t touch at all. In most cases, they develop an open bite together with the overbite. The teeth angle outward which leads to larger spaces between the front teeth and leaves an opening between the upper and lower arch. An open bite can cause speech, chewing, and swallowing difficulties that need definite intervention from an orthodontist later in life.
3. Overcrowding:
Teeth should grow straight without crowding or gaps. In certain cases, erupting teeth are unable to grow straight due to the constant force created by the continuous thumb sucking and the use of pacifiers. As they grow, they shift their positions to fit in, twist, rotate, and overlap resulting in overcrowding.
4. Teeth Gaps:
Constant thumb sucking or pacifier use can potentially lead to teeth coming out unevenly with uneven gaps between them, especially the two front grown up teeth.
Prolonged habits can delay the development of permanent teeth as it delays the front primary teeth from falling out.
5. Speech difficulty:
Teeth placement and formation play an important role in speech development as some sounds involve the tongue coming in contact with the teeth. Prolonged usage of pacifiers or thumbsucking over several hours may show an impact on speech development.
6. Narrow Palate:
When a pacifier is placed between the tongue and palate (roof of the mouth), it prevents the correct performance of the muscles of the tongue to affect the growth of the arch of the mouth and the floor of the mouth symmetrically and this leads to a narrow palate.
Strategies to break the habit:
Here are some methods with which you can guide your child to break the habit and help prevent long-term dental impacts.
- Positive reinforcement is the finest way to wean your child off the thumb-sucking or pacifier habit. Criticizing the habit can make kids more anxious and more likely to continue. Praise them when they go for a certain duration without sucking.
2. If your toddler has gotten used to a pacifier, withholding it may tempt him/her to start sucking again. Deliver gentle reminders to not suck their thumb rather than pulling it away.
3. Maintain a reward system in which your child gets something they enjoy for each day they don’t suck their thumb. Encourage your child with a ‘star’ sticker on a chart to highlight the number of times he/she doesn’t engage in the habit, or with some extra playtime upon achieving a milestone.
4. Children are more likely to stop the habit on their own. Have an open dialogue with your child by using the example of their favourite cartoon character to help them understand the need to break the habit even better.
5. If you prefer a gradual approach, you can time your intervention. Set a certain duration in which your child is allowed to suck his/her thumb or use pacifiers, and start limiting it gradually by observing the pattern.
6. Keep your child busy. The more they are idle, the more they indulge in the habit. Distract and redirect your child into activities that keep both their hands busy.
7. Sometimes, your child may need a little nudge from someone else to kick the habit for good. Make an appointment with a good pediatric dentist Dubai and let the dentist talk to your child about the habit and the importance of taking good care of their teeth and mouth.
Pacifiers, though they are popular among parents to help their babies stop crying, can potentially damage the developing teeth. The teeth of babies are in the development stage and are vulnerable to damage from sustained thumb sucking and pacifier use after the first 3 years of life.. It is essential for parents to be vigilant during this phase. Thumb sucking is a natural way for your baby to relax and self-soothe – it is normal in the first year and the majority of kids give it up easily. It calls for concern when the habit is prolonged and interrupts the emerging teeth into their natural position and with the shape-shifting of the mouth. Take your child to visit the dentist every six months as it can go a long way in helping your child develop good oral hygiene habits and healthy teeth in the long run.
About Dr. Yasmin Kottait: Having dedicated 16 years of her career to spreading smiles and imparting knowledge of oral hygiene to children, Dr. Yasmin is a renowned name and face in the field of pediatric dentistry in Dubai. Her joyful personality and magical kid-whispering powers make dental appointments for kids an easy sail – and lots of fun, that they never miss a single dental appointment with her! Dr. Yasmin is also one of the few Autism friendly dentists in the region, with a diploma in Cognitive Based Hypnotherapy and IBCCES Autism certification.