Most infants will suck their thumb or a pacifier at some point. While most will naturally stop this habit, this isn’t always the case. Unfortunately, these habits can actually have a negative impact on a child’s oral health in the long-term. Now, two doctors have provided advice for parents that need help in stopping these habits in their children. These tips can be very beneficial.
A very common action among young children and babies is what dentists call “non-nutritive sucking” [1].
This behaviour relates to when a baby or young child sucks on a pacifier, thumb, finger(s), or other objects [1].
While these habits can initially be positive for infants, in the long-term it can negatively affect their oral health. Therefore, stopping these bad habits early on is important.
What is non-nutritive sucking?
As outlined above, non-nutritive sucking is the behaviour which involves an infant sucking on an object – normally a pacifier or their thumb [1].
It is important to state that this is a very common action. For example, The National Institute of Health state that approximately 50% of infants such a thumb or finger [2].
It is recommended that parents ensure that these habits end by the time a child turns 3. However, this isn’t always easy – but there are many tips available for helping with this process!
Now, Dr. Katherine Fleming and Dr. Tiana Piscitelli of the University of Connecticut have put together a range of tips to assist parents in stopping these habits from continuing into later childhood [1].
The Top Tips
Here are some of their top tips [1]:
• Use distraction techniques to keep your child busy, such as doing activities like going for a walk or run, playing a game or colouring.
• Use positive reinforcement rather than punishment if the child continues the action.
• When dealing with older children, use this as an opportunity to set goals together, like banning the use of a pacifier or thumb-sucking an hour before meals and bedtime – before working your way up to longer periods.
• Allow the child to be rewarded – which will mean they will be incentivized to stop the habit.
Tips for Thumbs, Fingers and Pacifiers
Fleming and Piscitelli have provided specific advice for when children suck their thumb or fingers [1]:
• When you notice that the child is sucking their thumb or fingers, gently remind them not to do so – rather than shouting at them.
• Furthermore, don’t get too harsh with your child, as thumb or finger sucking is a difficult habit to break, and takes time. Be patient with them.
• Consider covering the child’s hands while they sleep, such as through gloves or mittens. If needed, you could also buy a finger/thumb guard.
• Discuss the situation with your dentist, as they can offer advice or even an appliance if needed.
Finally, the duo have also offered advice for those sucking on pacifiers [1]:
• A great way of weaning a child off of a pacifier is to gradually decrease the size of it over time. You can cut small parts off over a few weeks, which will help your child to slowly become accustomed to life without a pacifier.
• However, sometimes a “cold turkey” approach is better. One way of doing this is to “trade” the pacifier in for a special toy. This is best done with some notice, so that the child is aware that they will soon lose the pacifier.
• It is also possible to replace the pacifier with a different comfort item. For example, this could be a teddy bear, extra pillow, or a blanket.
One of the main over-arching tips is to be firm if your child resists. Being firm and not backing down is important, otherwise this makes the process become harder.
What are the dangers of long-term sucking?
As mentioned earlier, it is important that these habits are stopped, as they can negatively impact a child’s oral health in the long-term.
Long-term sucking can impact the alignment of teeth, as they are likely to have been pushed in different directions. Moreover, the front teeth may stick out more [3].
Speech and the shape of the roof of the mouth can also be affected by long-term thumb sucking [3]. These can then cause eating difficulties too.
These issues can result in the requirement of orthodontic treatment, like braces, to correct teeth positioning. Moreover, tooth decay becomes likelier due to the increase in bacteria entering the mouth [4].
Summary
It is important to not get too worried about sucking, as most children naturally outgrow this habit. But there are definitely ways of helping them, as outlined above.
Having conversations about oral health is important, as it can make children understand its importance from a young age. This can start by gently talking about the usefulness of stopping this habit.
As outlined above, there are several ways that you can try and stop this habit from occurring. But as discussed, dentists will always be there to provide further support if needed.
Thinking points…
[1] Are you struggling to stop your child from sucking on a pacifier or their thumb? If so, consider speaking to your child’s dentist about this. They will be able to provide advice and if needed – there are fixed or removable appliances which they can offer. Therefore, this can help to break your child out of their habit. We recommend that you speak to your dentist soon!
[2] Making children aware of the importance of oral health from an early age is crucial. One of the best ways of doing this is to attend regular dental appointments with your child. They will be able to see you get examined and realize its importance. It is also vital for your oral health to have regular check-ups! We recommend booking a check-up soon!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary dental clinic at least twice per year for a regular dental check-up. At these check-ups, we provide a comprehensive review of a patient’s oral health. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For example, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To strengthen your oral health, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, teeth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
Moreover, the fees of our treatments at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This ensures transparent and fair pricing, with no hidden costs.
We hope to see you soon at our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] Chandler, C. (2024). Breaking detrimental oral habits in young kids. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-detrimental-oral-habits-young-kids.html. Last accessed: 1st March 2024.
[2] Fukuta, O., Braham, R. L., Yokoi, K., & Korusu, K. (1996). Damage to the primary dentition resulting from thumb and finger (digit) sucking. ASDC Journal of Dentistry for Children. 63 (6): p403-407. PMID: 9017172.
[3] American Dental Association. (2024). Thumbsucking. Available: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/thumbsucking/. Last accessed: 1st March 2024.
[4] Cerny, R. (1981). Thumb and finger sucking. Australian Dental Journal. 26: p167-171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1834-7819.1981.tb03938.x.
