Thumb-sucking is a natural habit many children develop, as it closely mimics their feeding routine and comforts them, like feeding from a bottle or a pacifier. The sucking action helps a child feel secure, and although most children grow out of it at an early stage, many children continue to do so for several years, which can have an impact on their dental health. [pullquote]As a child continues to suck their thumb, irregular spaces may form between the teeth, molars may become misaligned and bad bite patterns may form, such as overbites and underbites. [/pullquote]
Ask your family dentist about the effects on a child’s teeth from sucking their thumb, and they will explain that such actions can affect the development and health of the child’s teeth by causing teeth to shift within the mouth, and possible damage to the jawbone; other potential issues include gap formation and bite misalignment.
As a child’s teeth begin to develop, thumb sucking should be discouraged, so it is important to monitor their habits. Children tend to suck their thumb subconsciously, and so may not be aware they are doing so. However, leaving the problem unaddressed past the child’s fourth year may require evaluation by your family dentist to see just how much, if any, problems are beginning to manifest as a result of thumb sucking.
Thumb sucking while the child has baby teeth may result in the teeth becoming damaged or shifting from their natural position. As the jawbone is still forming, and therefore pliable, shifting teeth as a child can train adult teeth to develop and emerge misaligned and out of position into the mouth.
Where this occurs, special treatments, such as braces or retainers may require to be worn in order to correct the teeth’s alignment.
As a child continues to suck their thumb, irregular spaces may form between the teeth, molars may become misaligned and bad bite patterns may form, such as overbites and underbites. These in turn can follow on to create further problems, such as temperomandibular joint disorder.
So, while this habit is a natural occurrence in many children, especially of toddler age, continued thumb-sucking could be damaging the child’s dental health.
For more information on how to care for your child’s teeth, contact our dedicated and experienced Fort Worth dental team today at 210-616-0858 to schedule a consultation.
