The debate as to the harmful effects (or otherwise) of thumb sucking has raged for generations. Even today, it’s a subject of widespread debate, upon which everyone has their own unique opinion.
Technically speaking, the fact that a child develops a thumb-sucking habit does not necessarily guarantee they will encounter oral health issues. Even so, extensive studies conducted over the course of several decades have drawn direct links between thumb sucking and an elevated risk of some types of oral health problems.
Ultimately, it’s up to parents to decide how they approach oral health and hygiene with their own kids. But when it comes to thumb-sucking, most experts are in agreement that such habits should be nipped in the board at an early stage, where possible.
How Thumb-Sucking Can Adversely Affect Children’s Oral Health
Thumb sucking is a natural reflex that can occur at any time during childhood. Some start sucking their thumbs as babies, others as toddlers and so on. There are also many children who begin sucking their thumbs while still in the womb, then continue doing so after being born.
For infants, babies and toddlers, thumb sucking does not pose any direct threat to the development of their teeth, or their general oral health. But when the habit continues into childhood, the risk of adverse effects grows.
A report published by the British Orthodontic Society states that if thumb sucking stops before a child turns seven, any issues that may have been caused to the development of the teeth will usually correct themselves. Beyond this age, it is far more likely that a child who still sucks their thumb will encounter issues with the growth and development of their adult teeth.
Far from unusual, it is estimated that at least one in every eight children between the ages of seven and 11 have a thumb-sucking habit. This can be a particularly problematic age for thumb sucking, as it is the time during which the child’s adult teeth are setting in place.
The British Orthodontic Society also reports that the longer a thumb-sucking habit continues, the higher the likelihood of the child developing more severe oral health problems. Examples of which include developing a crossbite, an anterior open bite, a misshapen palate and difficulty with chewing.
Elsewhere, studies have linked prolonged thumb sucking with a higher risk of speech impairment, intra-oral ulcers and other issues associated with poor oral hygiene. In most countries, the same basic public health advice applies – parents should try to get their kids out of their thumb-sucking habit at an early age.
Why Good Oral Health Matters For Young Children
When polled by the Oral Health Foundation, around 50% of adults admitted that they took oral health and hygiene for granted as kids and teenagers. While this finding is anything but surprising, it nonetheless highlights the importance of instilling good habits in kids from the earliest possible age.
By getting kids to take an active interest in their oral health, it becomes much easier to get them into good habits for a lifetime. In addition, getting things started from an early age is much easier than attempting to alter the habits of older kids at a later stage.
Kids’ oral health and hygiene routines have a major impact long-term impact on the health, straightness and appearance of their teeth. Many kids need to undergo treatment to align their teeth, but research suggests that good oral hygiene habits from an early age really can make all the difference.
Be it a dentist recommended electric toothbrush for kids or a water flosser that’s fun to use, anything that steers kids in the right direction is worth trying out.
How to Help Kids Stop Sucking Their Thumbs
All kids are unique, which is what makes them so great (and challenging at times). Consequently, no two kids will ever respond the same to the approach taken to weaning them off their thumbs.
With some kids, a little positive reinforcement and the whole job is taken care of in a week. With others, you can spend months begging them to cooperate and they’ll do nothing of the sort.
Either way, there are awesome tactics and techniques that tend to prove are more effective than others. Each of the following carries the recommendation of doctors and dentists alike, as a tried and trusted method for ending thumb sucking:
- Always use positive reinforcement
In short, this means rewarding and praising your child for their good behaviour, rather than punishing them for failing to comply. For example, you could place a star chart on the fridge, and award them a gold star each time they go a morning or afternoon without sucking their thumb. The goal is to gradually help them build associations with not sucking their thumb and positive outcomes.
- Keep their hands busy
One of the best ways of breaking thumb-sucking habits is to keep kids so busy they don’t have time to suck their thumb. Arts and crafts, baking, sports, dancing and so on – anything that takes their mind off their thumb-sucking. There’s often a correlation between boredom and thumb-sucking, so aim to keep your kids as busy and entertained as possible.
- Bad tasting nail polish
There’s also the option of trying special nail polish, which is designed to have a horribly bitter taste while being 100% non-toxic. It’s a method that’s debatable in its effectiveness, as it focuses more on the negatives than the positives. Still, it’s also a method millions of parents swear by, having used it to great effect with their own children.
- Thumb guards
It’s a similar story with a thumb guard, which despite enabling kids to go about their daily activities as normal makes it physically impossible for them to suck their thumbs. Some doctors and dentists believe these devices to be the most effective option of all, but don’t carry the approval of all parents.
As always, speak to your doctor or dentist at an early stage, if you have any concerns or questions regarding your child’s thumb-sucking habit.
