Save your child’s smile by discouraging thumb sucking behaviors. Thumb sucking in infants can cause many issues and problems with the oral health of a child. Not only can it move 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 hazards often associated with thumb sucking:
– Thumb sucking can cause tooth decay or infections by presenting new bacteria into a child’s mouth.
– Additional treatment means 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.
– Thumb sucking can impede the growth of teeth.
– Shower your child with acclaim 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.”
– Pacifiers are often considered an alternative to thumb sucking, but it can harm the teeth and gums in nearly the same ways, although it does tend to be an easier habit to break in children.
– A child should ordinarily stop sucking their thumbs around the time their permanent front teeth begin to grow in, which is around 4 years of age.
Contact Findlay Dental Group at 419-423-0343 to set up an oral exam for your child. To schedule an oral examination with Dr. Kathryn Lewis and our team at our orthodontic office in Findlay, Ohio, please contact us at your earliest convenience. It’s never too early to start taking steps to a healthier smile for your child.