Chris M Jolley DDS

Thumb Sucking
Thumb sucking in preschool children is a very normal response to anxiety and stress and does not point to insecurity or emotional problems in your child. While thumb sucking is normal for infants and toddlers, this behavior should decrease by ages 3-4 and stop by age five. Unfortunately, many youngsters are slow to break the habit. Continued sucking of thumbs or fingers can cause serious dental problems with chewing, speech, and facial appearance in children.

Effects on the Jawbone

The more time a child sucks his thumb and the greater the sucking pressure, the more harm is done to teeth and jaws. Day and night forceful thumb sucking makes front teeth move, and can even reshape the jaw-bone. Upper front teeth flare out and tip upward while lower front teeth move inward.

The reason that thumbs and fingers are effective tooth movers and bone shapers is that the jaw bones of children under age eight are especially soft and malleable. Unfortunately for children and parents, prolonged thumb or finger sucking easily deforms the bone surrounding upper and lower front teeth, producing a hole or gap when teeth are brought together, known as an "open bite".

If a child stops thumb sucking before loss of baby front teeth and permanent front tooth eruption, most or all harmful effects disappear within six months. However, if the habit persists through permanent front tooth eruption, there can be lasting damage: flared or protruded upper teeth, delayed eruption of upper or lower front teeth, and the aforementioned open bite. This can result in chewing difficulties, speech abnormalities, and an unattractive smile.

Do Home Remedies Work?

Some parents try home remedies to break the habit. Some try placing gloves on their children before bedtime. Others paint thumbs and fingers with various foul-tasting substances. All of these measures are typically easy to overcome and, unless done with care or under psychological supervision, may be unsuccessful because thumb sucking is a deeply ingrained behavior.

The Dental Solution: A Crib That's Not for Sleeping

One treatment to break the thumb-sucking habit is a simple device called a "crib." Placed by Dr. Jolley on the child's upper teeth, the crib usually stops the habit cold the first day of use. The appliance's technical name is a "fixed palatal crib," and is a type of brace that sits full-time on the upper teeth and roof of the mouth.

The Tongue and Habit Appliance

The crib consists of semicircular stainless steel wires connected to supporting steel bands or rings. The half-circle of wires fits behind the child's upper front teeth, barely visible in normal view. The bands are fastened to the baby molars. There are a number of different crib designs used, all variations on the same theme.

Dr. Jolley will initially analyze the child’s teeth and jaws to check for problems with tooth position and bite. If the child's teeth and jaws show changes from prolonged thumb sucking, he will usually recommend a crib or a Thumb Tongue Habit Appliance to eliminate the habit.

 It is one of the simplest, yet most effective orthodontic devices. Crib wires prevent the thumb or finger from touching the gums behind the front teeth and on the palate (roof of the mouth). Patients turn the bead with their tongue which replaces the desire to suck the thumb and the child has no incentive to continue.

When Does Crib Treatment Begin?

The ideal time is when upper front baby teeth become loose, just prior to eruption of adult or permanent front teeth. This usually occurs just before or after age six, well beyond the maximum "normal" age for thumb sucking to stop. Prompt thumb removal at this time allows permanent teeth to assume a much better position than waiting until their full eruption to break the habit.

Sucking on a thumb, finger, or blanket may be noted in preteens, teenagers and even adults. Despite the age differences, the initial orthodontic treatment is the same for all: placement of a crib to break the habit. For teens and adults, counseling may be indicated to deal with any underlying psychological problems.

Article source: Stock dental articles