Helping Your Child Kick the Thumb-Sucking Habit

Thumb sucking that extends past the age of 5 can create an anterior open bite. With an open bite, the roof of the mouth (called the palate) arches too high, and the front teeth (incisors) don’t touch when the mouth is closed. An open bite will require expensive orthodontic treatment and may cause speech difficulties for your child. 

Quitting the Thumb-Sucking Habit 

There are a few ways you can encourage your child to quit this harmful habit before it can do any permanent damage: 

• Refrain from negative enforcement. Positive enforcement has been shown to be much more effective. This means praising your child when he isn’t sucking his thumb instead of punishing him when he does. 
• Use a reward system or a sticker chart to reward your child for going a day (or even an hour at first) without thumb sucking.
• Countless children will resort to thumb-sucking out of stress or boredom. Do your best to alleviate any anxiety your child may be experiencing or engage them in playing a game, doing a puzzle, playing with Legos, or participating in any activity that requires the use of their hands.
• Put your child to bed with a band-aid or a sock on her hands to discourage overnight thumb-sucking.

If your child’s behavior persists, please bring it up at their next dental cleaning and checkup, and we will be able to offer more advice. To make an appointment, please contact Jennifer Lopez Dental, our Miami general dentistry office.