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Parents are constantly telling their kids to keep their busy hands out of their mouths. After all, think about all the germs that are cover everything your child encounters. It\u2019s almost like a slow-motion horror scene when you watch their little thumb pop into their mouth when you\u2019re out in public.<\/p>\n
Then again, there\u2019s the solace that\u2019s found when your child quietly sucks on their thumb\u2014keyword being quiet. Although moments of silence are rare and should be cherished, your dentist is here to share why you should get your child to kick their thumb sucking habit right away.<\/p>\n
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Relying on other things to soothe your child rather than self-soothing practices can actually influence the shape of your child\u2019s mouth and the alignment of their teeth. Since baby\u2019s and toddler\u2019s mouths mature physically at a quick pace, their jaws may grow around anything that\u2019s consistently in their mouth.<\/p>\n
As the upper front develop, they may form around the thumb, causing misalignment and even protruding teeth. Problems with tooth position and jaw alignment could also occur. For instance, your child\u2019s teeth may not meet when the mouth closes or changes may occur on the roof of their mouth. All of these are issues that could lead to other dental issues as they become older. The good news is that they are completely avoidable.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no denying that the calmness associated with thumb sucking can be beneficial to both young children and parents. It\u2019s still recommended that by the age of 2, you discourage thumb sucking at home. After your child is older than 6 months old, pacifiers are more for your child to cope rather than to sooth. Not only is this unsafe for their oral health, but there are better ways for your child to adjust to discomfort.<\/p>\n
There are a few ways that you can help your child gradually stop their thumb sucking habit.<\/p>\n
Positive reinforcement is one of the best ways to break a bad habit and encourage a new one. Whenever you see your child not sucking their thumb, shower them with excited praise and compliments.<\/p>\n
A helpful tip to remember is that it won\u2019t help to punish your child when they suck their thumb. In fact, they could turn towards their thumb more often to deal with the stress of the punishment.<\/p>\n
Some children can use a few extra cuddles to help with their stress or discomfort. This could help them drop their thumb sucking habit and turn to their parents more often for help\u2014which is definitely better for their teeth!<\/p>\n
Overall, remember that your child depends on you to lead the way when it comes to good decision making and great health. Even if they resist, stopping their thumb sucking habit early is best for them.<\/p>\n