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We all start our life by sucking our thumbs. Some of us never pick up the habit however, that’s rare to find. It’s not the thumb sucking itself that’s the issue, it’s the longevity of the habit that ends up becoming a problem. A child must be weaned after a certain period of time since prolonged thumb sucking can have long-lasting effects.
The Alignment of Teeth
The alignment of baby teeth can be altered quite a bit from a child who consistently sucks their thumb. This often will correct itself when adult teeth begin to appear and the baby teeth fall out. However, long term damage even to the alignment of adult teeth can begin from thumb sucking while the child still has their baby teeth. It’s suggested by the ADA that children stop sucking their thumb by age four, although it may be appropriate to begin before this age.
Prolonged sucking of the thumb can lead to teeth appearing to be “bucked.” This means a child’s teeth will jut out causing their upper and lower teeth do not come into contact in a normal manner. This sort of damage, especially in permanent teeth will cause other steps to be taken in order to repair the damage such as braces.
Jaw Shape
Prolonged thumb sucking can cause more damage to the face than just the teeth. In fact, thumb sucking can cause the shape of the jaw to be changed. This can result, not only, in teeth alignment being changed but, in speech impediments as well. For example, if a child obtains an open bite from thumb sucking (their teeth jut out causing their upper and lower teeth not to come into contact) they can develop a lisp. Even with corrective steps, a child may have to undergo speech therapy to remedy the issue.
Other Notes
It’s important to point out that pacifiers are similar to that of thumb sucking and can cause some of these same issues if allowed to go on for too long. Therefore, when speaking of thumb sucking and the adverse effects when prolonged, many include pacifiers in on the same subject. In other words, it’s not a good idea to swap one for the other and expect the issue to be resolved.
It’s also important to note that thumb sucking and using a pacifier us normal for children. It’s up to the discretion of the parent on how long they want to allow the action to occur. However, it’s safe and normal for a child to do both of these up until the age of four. Of course, each child is different and it’s always best to discuss timelines and options with your dental professional. They’ll be able to give you precise advice regarding your child’s exact needs.
