Posted on 4/26/2021 by Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry
According to American Dental Association (ADA), thumb-sucking in kids is completely normal and natural. It's a reflex they learn in the womb, and the habit continues when they are born as it makes them feel happy and secure. The action itself is a soothing mechanism that allows them to cope with separation anxiety. Lastly, it also helps induce sleep, which is why they often suck their thumb before bedtime.
With that being said, thumb-sucking is appropriate up to a certain age. Typically, the age by which children should stop this action is 4. After that, the pressure put on teeth by thumb-sucking can cause them to become permanently misaligned. If you are having trouble with stopping your kid from sucking their thumb, visit Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Healy and Dr. Martin are professionals who have dealt with such cases and will not only offer great advice but also fix the existing damage to your kid's teeth, so they have stronger adult teeth.
Let's look at some of the ways thumb-sucking affects your kid's teeth:
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Overbite: The front teeth get pushed slightly out, past the jawline. Due to this, the mouth doesn't close properly.
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Open Bite: The bottom teeth get misaligned, so they don’t meet in the middle or tip inward.
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Misshapen Jaw: Thumb-sucking puts immense pressure on the roof of the mouth, as well as the jawbone. The misalignment that occurs due to this can cause speech pattern problems, such as a lisp.
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Sensitive Mouth Roof: The continuous chaffing can cause your kid to lose sensitivity in the mouth’s roof, which can lead to problems in tasting and eating.
The best way to stop this behavior is first to find out what triggers thumb-sucking in your kid and then use different, engaging ways to distract them. They will automatically let go of the habit after feeling at ease. In the meantime, visit Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry to get a sense of the existing damage your kid's teeth already have. To schedule an appointment, call at (316) 202-9629.
Blog - Wichita, KS • Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry At Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Healy created this informative blog to assist with educating the community about various topics of pediatric dentistry. Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, 3933 N. Maize Road, Suite 200 Wichita, KS 67101 : (316) 202-9629 : tinyteethwichita.com : 10/3/2024 : Related Terms: Pediatric Dentist Wichita KS :
According to American Dental Association (ADA), thumb-sucking in kids is completely normal and natural. It's a reflex they learn in the womb, and the habit continues when they are born as it makes them feel happy and secure. The action itself is a soothing mechanism that allows them to cope with separation anxiety. Lastly, it also helps induce sleep, which is why they often suck their thumb before bedtime.