Many parents ask us what impact thumb sucking will have on their child and how they can help to stop it so we thought we’d share some insights we have. Firstly, thumb sucking is a very natural thing that many children do from an early age…and we mean very early. There is plenty of evidence that shows babies in utero sucking their thumb!  

 Why do they do it?

Thumb or finger sucking helps to calm and soothe the child. Sucking is a natural instinct for babies. As infants, the first contact a baby usually has with sucking is at their mother’s breast to drink breast milk. Milk contains a protein that is converted into serotonin in the brain and creates a sleepy, tired, relaxed feeling. Children who become attached to sucking as they get older still receive a physiological payoff every time they do it.

So when should your child stop their thumb sucking?

Previously, it was thought it was OK up until children got their adult teeth but we know from research that this is not correct. Children should ideally cease thumb sucking from around age 3-4.

Thumb sucking can put pressure on the sides of the upper jaw and the soft tissue on the roof of the mouth. This can cause the upper jaw to become very narrow and the teeth to not meet properly from the top to the bottom. This is often fixed with braces however there are other issues such as speech, chewing and breathing issues that may need to be addressed with therapy. Thumb sucking can make a cross-bite worse, and can cause the teeth in the back of the mouth to have to do most of the chewing. This causes an unevenness across the teeth and impacts the structure of the mouth and jaw as the child grows.

This habit is not necessarily something your child will grow out of naturally. Believe it or not, this habit can continue all the way throughout adulthood with lasting repercussions. The sooner your child stops sucking their thumb or finger, the better. At the age of 4 and a half to 5 years old – the so-called “Magic Age” children are bright and receptive and are often ready to stop their sucking. This is a great age to begin a formalised program. 

Any mechanical or aversive approach to stopping a child younger than 5 can result in withdrawals including bad behaviour and transfer to another habit (think nail biting, cheek chewing, clothes chewing).

OUR TOP TIPS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO STOP THUMB OR FINGER SUCKING!

1. Encourage your child to limit their thumb sucking to times when they are at home or taking a nap and not in public.

2. Explain that they do it to calm themselves and come up with other things they can do if feeling anxious or tired such as hold a soft toy or blanky.

3. Explain that they do it to calm themselves and come up with other things they can do if feeling anxious or tired such as hold a soft toy or blanky.

4. Be encouraging of your child when you notice they aren’t thumb sucking or choose an alternative.

5. Don’t use gloves or foul tasting deterrents. Remember your child does this activity to calm his or herself. They shouldn’t be punished. Many parents say that when they get upset or try to discipline their child over their sucking, ironically, the sucking worsens.

OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!

Generally, thumb or finger sucking shouldn’t be a concern in infancy. However, prolonged thumb or finger sucking in early childhood, and before the adult teeth start to grow in can cause problems with natural growth of a child’s teeth. It can lead to problems that have to be solved with costly and intensive treatments. A lot of children do outgrow these habits over time, but if your child is still thumb of finger sucking when they are 4 to 5 years old, it my be the time to seek further help to break this habit.

Google “adult thumbsucking” and you will get 42,000 results. There are websites dedicated to this habit. Famous suckers include Rhianna and Amy Winehouse. If you ask around, guaranteed, you will find someone with a grown up son, a cousin, a hairdresser or a husband (NOT kidding) who STILL sucks their digit in adulthood. Adults simply become better at hiding their habits, and it is often used as an emotional crutch or simply for relaxation.

Here at Kiddies Dental Care, we are here to help you and your family. Our friendly and super supportive staff have been trained in the latest techniques to help your child kick the habit once and for all. We will create a comprehensive personalised plan for your child, complete with an assessment of their habits and any impact it may be having on their development.

Our professional team have completed extensive additional training in the area of Stopping Thumb Sucking as an extra service we can provide for our patients

Simply, ask one of our staff during your visit or call us on 03 9372 8960 for a chat about making a 45 minutes assessment appointment with one of our trained certified providers.

Sucking is a natural instinct for babies. As infants, the first contact a baby usually has with sucking is at their mother’s breast to drink breast milk. Milk contains a protein that is converted into serotonin in the brain and creates a sleepy, tired, relaxed feeling. And children who become attached to sucking as they get older still get a physiological payoff every time they do it.

Prolonged and vigorous sucking results in decreased neurotransmissions in the brain and the chemicals serotonin and dopamine are released – the body’s very own natural addictive opiate.

There are very few ways to mimic this amazing sensation. Many parents say that when they get upset or try to discipline their child over their sucking, ironically, the sucking worsens.

By the time parents get to us, they usually have tried every trick in the book to stop the sucking. Don’t blame the parents. Trust us, they are doing the very best they can.

That depends on each individual child. It depends specifically on duration, intensity and frequency. It depends on HOW they suck, what digits they suck (finger suckers tend to have a higher palate). Some kids put pressure on their teeth, some kids put pressure on their palate, and others will put pressure on their lower jaw. Some children will need surgery to correct skeletal deformities related to digit sucking. Generally, thumb and digit sucking will usually have some form of impact on dental growth and development.

The biggest concern with digit sucking is that it results in improper tongue and lip rest postures and functions in childhood which influences how the child’s face and jaws develop.

USEFUL DENTAL RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING

A great video from the team at The Thumbsucking Clinic

If your child is about to start school and they are still thumb of finger sucking, here is some more great information from The Thumb Sucking Clinic to help you out.

HELP! SCHOOL IS ABOUT TO START AND MY CHILD IS STILL SUCKING THEIR THUMB!

Thanks to our wonderful Oral Health Therapist, Carlee.
She works at both the Essendon clinics.
If you would like to talk to her or any of our amazing team, about this or any other questions you may have, please contact us on 03 9372 8960.

Carlee Wooding