Did you know that thumb sucking can damage teeth? Thumb sucking in infants can cause a plethora of issues and problems with the oral health of a child. Not only can it change the alignment of the teeth in their mouths, it can also cause changes with their gums and the roof of their mouths.
Listed below are some of the common difficulties often associated with thumb sucking:
– Shower your child with celebration and help grow their confidence when they do not suck their thumbs, as thumb sucking is often done when they are feeling insecure or need it as a “security blanket.”
– Additional treatment procedures for thumb sucking include having the child’s pediatrician prescribe medication used to coat the child’s finger in a bitter and foul-tasting substance.
– A child should customarily stop sucking their thumbs around the time their permanent front teeth begin to grow in, which is around 4 years of age.
– Thumb sucking can alter the growth of teeth.
– Thumb sucking can cause tooth decay or infections by allowing new bacteria into a child’s mouth.
– Pacifiers are often considered an alternative to thumb sucking, but it can damage the teeth and gums in nearly the same ways, although it does tend to be an easier habit to break in children.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Jeffrey A Lowry DDS, please call our pediatric office at 951-263-7001. We are located in Riverside, California, and Dr. Jeffrey Lowry and all of our wonderful team look forward to doing our best to ensure your child’s oral health remains terrific.
