Thumb Sucking: The Dental Connection!

Since February is National Children's Dental Health Month, check out this common habit that can affect the dental health of a child.  Although many children commonly use a pacifier or suck their thumb, depending on how long the thumb sucking or constant pacifier use continues, and how aggressively the child sucks a thumb or pacifier, it can indeed be an oral health issue.  Generally speaking, most children outgrow these behaviors or are able to be weaned off them successfully sometime between the ages of two and four. When children wean off the behaviors in this age range, long-term damage is unlikely.

Both thumb sucking and pacifiers provide a form of self soothing to a child when he or she feels upset, stressed, confused, frustrated, or are unable to properly express their emotions.  As previously mentioned, while both habits are common, if a child is a regular thumb sucker or desires to use a pacifier almost constantly, it is best to taper off these habits at a young age.

If your child continues these habits after leaving toddler-hood, dental problems can start to develop. Check out the following tips to encourage your child to discontinue these habits.

• When your child is NOT using a pacifier or sucking a thumb, offer effusive praise.
• Positive reinforcement can be much more effective than scolding a child.
• Institute a reward system for giving up the habit and becoming a "big kid."
• Employ the help of older siblings or relatives that your child admires.

If you have any questions or you or your child are in need of a dental appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT