State-of-the-Art Pediatric Dental Care MANHATTAN PEDIATRIC
DENTAL GROUP, PC
     
 
  Parent Information  
 
Habits
 
  Click here for Tooth Sucking Progress Chart
 

Many infants and young children use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other objects in their mouths for various reasons. It may make them feel secure, happy, provide a sense of security, or help them relax thereby inducing sleep. Although sucking is a natural reflex in children, these habits can produce alterations in the normal relationships between teeth and jaws. The intensity and duration of these sucking habits influence how severe the problem will manifest itself in the mouth. Children should try to cease thumbsucking by the age of five.

 

If your child has difficulty stopping we can help to explore how this can be accomplished. Pacifiers can be less damaging because at around the age of one, the parent can remove them since the suckling reflex is winding down. Continued use of the pacifier helps to continue the act as a habit, which become as difficult to break as the thumb.

If their child is motivated, there are various ways that parents can help their child break the thumb habit. Besides Band-Aids and gloves that may be used as reminders, a chart reinforcement system can also be helpful. Using the chart to follow document progress, with rewards forthcoming could work for some children. Copy it and see how it works for your child.