DON'T SUCK YOUR THUMB!

Thumb sucking in a child is considered the earliest adduction.

Babies are born with a natural habit (reflex) to suck any object placed in their

mouth.

Naturally, children give up the habit after 2-3 years of age and thumb sucking is

considered normal till then. It has been reported that children who are forcefully

told to discontinue the habit before this age grow up to irritated, aggressive and

unsatisfied adults as sucking their thumb till the age of 3 gives them soothe,

pleasure and entertainment.

However, if the habit continues after 3 years of age, it is time we need to seek

intervention as it causes the following problems:

-Upper teeth tipping forward giving ‘bugs bunny’ appearance.

-Lower teeth tipping/ moving inward.

-Open bite-upper and lower teeth do not meet when the child closes mouth.

-Changes in speech.

-Incompetent lips leading to difficulty in closing mouth.

Here are some tips which will help your child stop thumb sucking:

 Comfort them with love. Do not force

-Talk: Tell them that there is a need for this to stop. Explain them the

consequences of continuing the habit. Also tell them that sucking their

thumb means they are eating the germs and can make them sick.

-Reminders: Apply Bad Tasting nail paints on fingers (available from

chemists or Amazon) so that the child gets reminded of the discontinuation

of habit.

-Sleep Help: Make them wear mittens thick gloves or commercially

available thumb guards during sleep.

-Rewards: Make a chart marking & praising everytime the child does not

suck thumb and promise them daily / weekly rewards.

-Dental Intervention: If the situation does not seem to be in your control,

talk to a dentist who might have to give your child an appliance to

discontinue the habit.

All your child needs is love!