Thumbsucking is commonly associated with infants as most of the infants are seen sucking their thumb. Although, it might appear a harmless bad habit, it can lead to dental and speech problems. This article will deal with why children suck their thumb and what problems can arise out of it. The next article will deal with how to get children to quit thumbsucking.
Why children suck their thumb?
Some babies develop the thumbsucking habit while in the mother’s womb itself where as others start this habit after their birth. Sucking in newborns is just an instinct for survival. They associate sucking with food (milk) and thus comfort and survival.
Sucking in children is a pleasure and comfort giving activity and can hence be attributed to psychological needs. Thumbsucking stimulates the brain to produce endomorphins which are the mood-altering chemicals. These endomorphins gives pleasure and comfort while the child sucks his/her thumb making the child habituated to it.
Many infants tend to stop the habit at around 1 year but quite a few carry on beyond this age. Experts have observed that thumbsucking habit beyond the age of 5 is very detrimental.
The typical parents reaction to this habit is shouting and nagging at the habit which makes it harder for the child to quit.
Punishing children for the habit is no way to get the child to quit thumbsucking and makes the child more adamant towards the habit.
Generally, as the child gets to the age of 4-5 years, he gets busy in his schedule such as school, playing with other children and other activities. This makes the child somewhat independent and he tends to forget about thumbsucking. He is too engrossed in other activities to think about thumbsucking. But some children do not quit this habit and here parents need to adapt a careful approach in order to get their child to quit thumbsucking.
What problems can thumbsucking give rise to?
- Thumbsucking has a major impact on the oral health of the child after the age of 5 years. It is the best to get the child to quit it around age 3.The upper front teeth are pushed forwards and the lower front teeth are pushed backwards. This does not create a problem though. This is because even if the baby teeth get misaligned, this has no effect on the permanent teeth which will start erupting at the age of 6-7 years.
- The roof of the mouth (palate) will be pushed upwards causing a range of problems including speech problems.
- Narrows the dental arches.
- Reshape the jawbone.
- Misalign the teeth.
- Apart from the dental problems, thumsucking can give rise to other problems such as ugly callous on thumb.
- Infection of the thumbnail.
- Increased risk of pinworms.
- Increased risk of other infections.
Continue reading: How to get children to stop thumbsucking.