765-348-4111 Although thumb sucking can often be seen as a cute little quirk that children have, the truth is that thumb sucking can be dangerous for their smile and their oral health. In some cases, prolonged exposure to bad habits like thumb sucking can lead to teeth being knocked or moved out of alignment. Here are some tips for breaking thumb sucking routines in children:
– Pacifiers are just as risky for a child’s oral health as thumb sucking can be, but pacifiers do tend to be an easier habit to stop and wean children from.
– Bacteria from a child’s thumb can easily end up in their mouth when they suck their thumb, which opens a child up to an array of heightened risks associated with poor oral hygiene and bad bacteria in their mouth.
– It is essential to build a sense of self-worth in children to boost their self-esteem and help them rely less on thumb sucking as a means of a safety blanket or protection.
– Thumb sucking can postpone a child’s oral health progress and slow the rate at which teeth grow in.
– Children who suck their thumbs are mathematically more likely to develop alignment issues with their teeth.
– Dentists can implement unpleasant tasting substances to help wean children off thumb sucking by coating the substance on their thumbs.
If your child needs additional treatment for thumb-sucking treatments, Dr. Raymond Maddox and our team at Maddox Family Dental Center will help you with your oral health care in any way we can. If you would like to schedule a visit to our dental office in Hartford City, Indiana, please call us at 765-348-4111. Your child’s smile is our business!