Oral Health Problems in Children (cont.)
Thumb sucking
Generally, it's normal and healthy for infants to suck their thumbs,
fingers, pacifiers or toys. Object sucking gives children a sense of emotional
security and comfort. However, if thumb sucking continues beyond the age of 5 --
when the permanent teeth begin to come in -- dental problems may occur.
Depending on the frequency, intensity, and duration of the sucking, the teeth
can be pushed out of alignment, causing them to protrude and create an
overbite. The child may also have difficulty with the correct pronunciation of
words. In addition, the upper and lower jaws can become misaligned and the roof
of the mouth might become malformed.
Tips to help your child stop thumb sucking
First, remember that thumb sucking is normal and should not be a concern of
parents unless the habit continues as the permanent teeth begin to emerge.
The child must make the decision on their own to stop sucking their thumb or
fingers before the habit will cease. To help toward this goal, parents and
family members can offer encouragement and positive reinforcement. Because
thumb sucking is a security mechanism, negative reinforcement (such as
scolding, nagging, or punishments) are generally ineffective -- making children
defensive and driving them back to the habit. Instead, give praise or rewards
for time successfully avoiding the habit. Gradually increase the time needed
without sucking to achieve the reward. The younger the child, the more frequent
the rewards will need to be given. For children who want to stop, cover the
finger or thumb with a band-aid as a reminder. Take the thumb or finger out of
the mouth after the child falls asleep.
To help older children break the habit, parents should try to determine why
their child is doing it -- find out what stresses your child faces and try to
correct the situation. Once the problem is gone, the child often finds it is
easier to give up sucking. If this doesn't work, there are dental appliances a
child can wear in the mouth to prevent sucking. These appliances are cemented
to the upper teeth, sit on the roof of the mouth and make thumb sucking harder
and therefore less pleasurable.
Next: Tongue thrusting »
- Fillings - The dentist will treat your teeth and remove tooth decay and fill.
- Abscessed Tooth - Learn about abscessed tooth symptoms (nausea, jaw swelling, pain), treatment (antibiotics), prevention and how dentists diagnose infected teeth.
- Mouth Guards - Get information on types of mouth guards to protect teeth from bruxism (teeth grinding) while sleeping and during sports such as football, boxing, wrestling, hockey and basketball.
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