Thumb sucking is a common habit amidst children. Though this habit may appear as a normal childhood trait, it can have several damaging effects on your child's oral health. It is for this reason that it becomes important for you to know all about the habit.
Why does your child suck his thumb?
Many parents remain puzzled as to why their child sucks the thumb. Well, there are many reasons for the same. As an infant, thumb sucking is one of the natural reflexes of your child. As your child grows older, the reasons for thumb sucking may vary. For instance, some kids suck their thumb as they feel happy on doing it. For others the habit is soothing and may even help in inducing sleep.
Is thumb sucking harmful?
Yes, thumb sucking is harmful as it can have several negative effects on the oral health of your child. However, the extent of damage depends upon the intensity with which the thumb is sucked. Children who just keep the thumb in their mouth are less likely to have problems. However, if your child sucks his/her thumb aggressively then there can be extreme damage to the teeth and the mouth. The chances of damage are even higher if your child already has permanent teeth.
Thumb sucking can lead to misalignment of the teeth. It can also cause disordered growth of the mouth. In some cases, the primary teeth may have problems as a result of aggressive thumb sucking. Besides, thumb sucking can lead to stomach infections also, which is slightly less common.
How can you help your child?
There are a lot of things that parents can do other than worrying to help their child cope with thumb sucking. One thing that you can do to wean your child from thumb sucking is use pacifiers. Of course, these too have the same effect on your child's teeth. But, the habit is much easier to break as compared to thumb sucking.
Many parents scold their children for sucking their thumb. However, this should be avoided as it can have a negative impact on your child. Instead, parents should praise their child when he/she does not suck his thumb.
In most cases, children suck their thumbs in a bid to ease out their insecurity, anxiety or the fear. Focus on solving the child's problem. Once you have been able to deal with the root cause of anxiety or fear, your child will stop sucking the thumb on his own. Involving your child in other activities that keep him occupied also helps. For instance, you could keep your child busy with hobbies like painting, dancing and the like.
But in case your child refuses to give up, you could try bandaging. There are specialized bandages available in the market that can be used over your child's thumb.
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