While thumb sucking could very well be problematic as a kid matures, it's actually part of a totally usual instinct for babies in the womb and very soon after birth. This innate reaction to feel soothed or restore a sense of peace leads babies to pacify themselves as they can. As children mature, however, thumb sucking should be curbed, with parents, caregivers, and dentists working together to make sure that this infantile behavior stops. 

Why Thumb Sucking Occurs

The sucking urge is natural in babies, especially in those younger than six months of age. While being able to self soothe may be beneficial in many cases, continued thumb sucking may become habitual. Thus this habit is known to combat:

• Boredom

• Fear

• Hunger

• Restlessness

• Sleepiness

While many toddlers and most infants may suck on their thumbs, the thumb sucking period generally passes by the time children reach three years of age. As a result, even fewer children tend to suck their thumbs as they progress beyond the ages of four and five. Thumb sucking in school children, therefore, is no longer considered to be an acceptable reaction to feelings or circumstances.

Possible Dental Problems Brought on by Thumb Sucking

Professionals in the area of pediatric dentistry often see the unwanted effects of thumb sucking to varying degrees. While minor problems may not call for any urgent or formal dentistry intervention, really serious cases may need considerable work to reshape the mouth and teeth. As a result, youngsters who suck their thumbs may end up with:

• Misaligned teeth

• Overbites

• Misshaped mouths

The resulting dental problems may affect many aspects of daily life as speech problems. Children who suck their thumbs with particular intensity may even develop infections and sores as a result as well. Because this behavior is typically associated with toddlers and infants, children who still suck their thumbs as they enter and progress through elementary school frequently endure teasing from their peers. Such behavior at this age may suggest emotional difficulties or another form of disorder, and thus a medical examination is likely necessary at this stage.

Ways to Help a Youngster Stop Thumb Sucking

Thumb sucking is usually a passing phase, and intervention with children under four years of age is usually unnecessary. Children at this age who start to suck more often or with greater intensity, however, may create significant dental problems. Accordingly, these techniques are often used to treat this behavior:

• Ignore the behavior

• Establish rules and rewards

• Discuss the effects

• Conceal the thumb

• Coat the thumbnail

Ignoring the behavior is likely appropriate for youngsters who're beginning to taper off in their thumb sucking, but setting parameters and talking openly together with your child may be required if the behavior continues or intensifies. Wrapping the thumb or hand or applying a nontoxic substance with an unpleasant taste may work particularly well when combined with a suitable reward system. Working with a seasoned orthodontist, however, may be the most effective way to make needed dental corrections and make sure that the chosen method of treatment is appropriate and effective.