Edmonton Dentist ー Thumb-sucking is a natural behaviour that is most commonly performed by children. It is the act of sucking one’s thumbs or fingers done by babies to make themselves feel secure and happy. Another reason why they do this is to relax and soothe themselves to sleep. Babies also usually do this using pacifiers or other objects. Their thumb-sucking tendencies are at the height when they are teething. It is really hard to stop a baby from thumb-sucking because it is considered a natural reflex to them. It is only when they reach a certain age that they usually stop sucking their thumbs.
Children stop doing this action between the ages of two and four years old or by the time their permanent front teeth become ready to erupt. Parents, as much as possible, want their children to avoid thumb-sucking especially when they notice changes in their child’s primary teeth. When thumb-sucking becomes a habit, it may create problems with the growth and alignment of a child’s teeth which can lead to an increased need for orthodontic treatments like braces or Invisalign Edmonton in the future.Children stop doing this action between the ages of two and four years old or by the time their permanent front teeth become ready to erupt. Parents, as much as possible, want their children to avoid thumb-sucking especially when they notice changes in their child’s primary teeth. When thumb-sucking becomes a habit, it may create problems with the growth and alignment of a child’s teeth which can lead to an increased need for orthodontic treatments like braces or Invisalign Edmonton in the future.
Why is thumbsucking harmful to a child’s oral health? ー Edmonton Dentist
Thumb-sucking is a problematic habit that needs to be stopped because it can be harmful to a child’s oral health. It can cause bite problems or malocclusion if it is done consistently for a considerable amount of time. It can also cause problems with teeth alignment and proper growth of the mouth. It can even cause changes in the roof of the mouth.
If your child usually only rests their thumb passively in their mouth, then they will less likely experience consequences to oral health, unlike the ones who vigorously and aggressively suck their thumbs. This is due to the fact that the constant pressure that the thumb exerts on the teeth and mouth can most likely interfere with the normal and healthy jaw growth and teeth eruption. One of the most common bite problems that a child might develop is an open bite.
How to prevent your child from thumbsucking? ー Edmonton Dentist
To help your child avoid their habit of sucking their thumbs, here are the things that you need to do
- Try to do positive reinforcement wherein you praise or reward them whenever they stop sucking their thumbs. This will definitely help them avoid doing the act.
- Try to understand the root cause of the problem or the main reason why they always suck their thumbs. Usually, it is because they feel insecure and anxious and they need comfort. The answer is to provide comfort to your child so that they avoid other means to get it.
- Make your child, especially if they’re older, involved in the whole mission and let them choose the method of stopping they are the most comfortable with.
- Have your child speak with an affordable Edmonton dentist so that the dentist can offer encouragement to your child and explain in detail what could happen to their oral health if they do not stop thumb-sucking.
If the following tips are still not working, try resorting to bandaging the child’s thumb or putting a sock on their hands at night to remind them not to suck their thumbs. It is also important that you regularly visit a children’s dentist
with your child if they have recurring habits like this because your dentist may be able to help them by prescribing a bitter medication to coat the thumb or introduce the use of a mouth appliance. Contact Edgemont Dental or fill out our appointment request form. We look forward to hearing from you!
