The sight of a baby sucking on his or her thumb or finger can be cute to onlookers.
Many babies develop this completely normal habit even before birth, as they find it soothing. However, continuing to suck the thumb after the age of three can bring about problems with development of the teeth and mouth.
But what affect does thumb-sucking actually have on the teeth and mouth? And how can you help your child to break free of this potentially damaging habit?
In a normal bite, your child’s upper teeth should grow to overlap the lower teeth. But when a child continues to suck the thumb, fingers, or pacifier, any of these could place abnormal pressure on the gums. This pressure may hinder teeth from erupting properly, and can even influence jaw bone growth.
In some cases, thumb-suckers develop an “open bite”, i.e., the teeth don’t create the natural overlap when the child bites together.
Since most children break free of finger-sucking habits on their own between the ages of 2 and 4, many parents prefer a conservative approach to intervention. If it appears that the child won’t stop the habit alone, you might try the following methods:
Is your child finding it difficult to stop sucking his or her thumb or fingers? Help is available. Call the Yuba City Dentistry Group today and we can set up an appointment. Together, we’ll help your child break free of this potentially damaging habit – once and for all!
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