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DENTAL HEALTH: Thumb Sucking
By Dr. NerominiFagu
Not all habits may have a negative outcome later in life. Unfortunately, thumb sucking is not one of them, especially if it is done beyond the toddler years and in an aggressive manner. 
Most kids suck their thumbs as a form of comfort or in times of stress or boredom. It is probably something they did in the womb and continued once they were born.
There are two important factors that indicate whether thumb sucking will have a negative effect on teeth: age and intensity. In some instances, the damage to the teeth can affect proper chewing and even cause problems with speech.
Age
According to the American Dental Association, most children can safely suck their thumb – without damaging the alignment of their teeth or jaws – until their permanent teeth begin to appear.
This usually occurs around age six. When the finger habit persists beyond the toddler years and into the adolescent years, there can be significant effects on the teeth, gums, jaws, and even facial form.
Once the primary (baby) teeth are gone, the potential damage has a greater likelihood of becoming permanent or requiring the attention of an orthodontist.
Intensity
The intensity along with the frequency of the sucking is a factor that determines whether dental problems may result. If a child forcefully sucks his or her thumb from day one, then the habit could impact the shape of the mouth and the position of the teeth before the permanent teeth erupts. If a child places a thumb in his or her mouth only occasionally, with little to no sucking, then it’s less likely to cause a permanent problem.
Dental damage due to thumbsucking includes abnormal alignment of teeth, known as a malocclusion, as well as damage to the structure of the roof of the mouth.One of the most noticeable effects of thumbsucking is buck teeth, which result when the pressure of the thumb pushes the top teeth out and away from each other. The changes in the teeth could also cause speech problems, such as a lisp.
It’s possible that malocclusions will take care of themselves once the child stops sucking his or her thumb, but correcting of the teeth may probably involve dental work and in some cases even jaw surgery.
Curbing the Habit
Breaking the thumb sucking habit can be frustrating and difficult. Doctors and dentists suggest providing positive reinforcement to children for not sucking their thumbs, as opposed to negative comments when they do suck. In fact, negative reactions may increase the stress and, by extension, the sucking.
Try to create incentives for quitting, such as using a gold star chart to track progress each week and offer a prize based on the number of non-sucking days. As a way of positive reinforcement you can also praise the child for not sucking his or her thumb.
It is also a good idea to try and find out the reasons for the sucking and try to address these issues. If the child is facing any form of pressure or anxiety, comforting the child’s worries may ease the need to turn to the thumb for relief.Most children will respond with some gentle guidance and reassurance.
If the child is still having difficulty giving up the habit, speak with your dentist. He or she can show the child how thumb sucking can harm the teeth and mouth and this may provide the incentive needed to quit.
As a last resort your dentist may recommend inserting an oral device to curb the behaviour.
There are various types of devices that can be used, from palatal bars or crib and tongue shield appliances to composite or metal spikes bonded to the teeth.
Even removable types of appliances can be used, but these are not as effective because children have a tendency to not wear them. The devices help to curb the habit by making it painful for the child to suck the thumb.
As with many habits, thumbsucking may take time and patience to break. Children usually require the desire to quit and even then it may take about 30 to 60 days to let go of the urge to suck.
A collaborative effort may be needed by the child, parent and dentist in order to break the habit and prevent some of the ill effects of the behaviour.
For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to [email protected].
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