When should my child stop thumb-sucking?

Sucking is a normal baby reflex! It helps babies and toddlers feel secure and happy and helps them learn about their world and their developing teeth. Thumb sucking is also soothing and helps to induce sleep or calms the child when separated from their parents or when placed in a stressful situation. 

So, when should thumb-sucking stop naturally? Or when is it time to intervene? Is it harmful for your child to continue thumb-sucking after the recommended time? How do you help them stop this habit? Here’s everything you need to know! 

When to stop thumb sucking 

 “The American Dental Association (ADA)” recommends that children be encouraged to stop their thumb sucking habits by age four. The continuation of vigorous thumb sucking can lead to changes in the palate and teeth alignment. Proper bite is important for the adult teeth which are set to replace the baby teeth.” 

Usually the child will begin to change and cease their thumb sucking habits with gentle encouragement from their family and peers.  

Is thumb-sucking bad? 

Thumb-sucking is not “bad” and it certainly has an important role in your child’s development. However, when children continue to suck their thumbs after age four, this habit starts to impact the alignment of teeth, as well as the jaw bone formation. 

As your little one’s teeth and mouth are growing, thumb-sucking can push their teeth out of place or change the shape of their mouth. This could lead to problems like an overbite, protruding front teeth, or gaps between teeth. If this happens to your child’s teeth, he or she will likely need orthodontic treatment to align their teeth. It’s ideal to help your child break the thumb-sucking habit before it takes a toll on their teeth! 

Your Saraswati Dental College team is here to help! 

We are proud to be well-known pediatric dental experts in Saraswati Dental College and Hospital. We are here to help you and your child adjust to their new world of dentist visits in any way that we can. If you think it would be helpful to introduce your child to our team before their appointment, please let us know and we are happy to make that happen. You and your child are in great hands with our trusted team and don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. If you’re ready to schedule your child’s visit, let’s get started!