Finger sucking habits and how to break them
Habits and how to break them~
Thumb sucking is normal during the first few years of life. Approximately half of all children will stop non-nutritive habits by the time they reach 2.5 years old. However, there are those whose habit is more deeply engrained and are still digit sucking until age 8 or 9. Many children stop when they first go to school (peer pressure) or due to the discomfort of loosening baby teeth.
What problems does it cause?
The severity of any problem caused depends on the child’s growth pattern, the duration of the habit each day and the force of the digit in the mouth. Possible effects of the habit are:
- Constricted upper arch
- Anterior open bite (Upper teeth pushed up, Lower teeth pushed down)
- Calluses or cracked/irritated skin on digit
- Abnormal swallowing, speech or tongue positioning
- Psychological effects due to poor smile
Many of these effects can self correct once the habit stops. As pediatric dentists, our goal is to have all non-nutritive habits stopped by age 3.
What interventions are there?
Dentists
- Help to tell child how nice their teeth are and what could potentially harm them
- Can meet with child at frequent intervals to reinforce their progress until it is extinguished
Parents
- Help her learn what she can do instead, focus on another distraction such as count her teeth by touching each with tip of the tongue.
- Limit the time and location the sucking can occur
- Purchase Mavala stop at Ulta Beauty or Amazon to paint on nails (bitter tasting)
- Thumb guards can be purchased on Amazon or a sock/Ace Bandage can also be used to physically restrain the digit
- Band-aids can be used a reminder
Orthodontists
- Once the child wants to stop the habit on their own, and still can not- an appliance can be made (Tongue Crib, Bluegrass, etc)
Stay positive and praise your child with a star calendar. Small rewards after an agreed upon time also may help. It typically takes 3 months for a habit to fully stop!
Please feel free to ask us more questions when you come in for your next visit 🙂
