{"id":337,"date":"2022-09-30T19:23:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T19:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.castlerocksmiles.com\/blog\/?p=337"},"modified":"2022-09-30T19:47:54","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T19:47:54","slug":"thumb-sucking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.castlerocksmiles.com\/blog\/2022\/09\/30\/thumb-sucking\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Thumb-Sucking Harmful for Your Child\u2019s Smile?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thumb-sucking is a very common habit among young children. Babies have natural rooting and sucking reflexes, causing them to put their thumbs and fingers in their mouths. This can even happen when there are still in the womb. However, you may be wondering how long it goes on. As your child gets older, will this affect their oral health<\/a> or well-being? Continue reading to learn more about the effects of thumb-sucking and some steps to get your child to discontinue the habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Is Thumb-Sucking Normal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is normal and safe for your young child to suck on their thumb. As they are growing, feeling objects and putting their fingers in their mouth is their natural way of exploring and understanding the world around them. Some children resort to thumb-sucking as a way to comfort themselves, just like how other children may hug their blanket or stuffed animal. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), children usually discontinue this behavior on their own when they are around 2 to 4 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Thumb-Sucking Be Harmful?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is definitely a habit that you should be monitoring as your child gets older, as it can lead to a variety of dental issues down the line when continued too long. Thumb-sucking isn\u2019t usually seen as problematic until they are around five years old. At this point, it is a good idea to begin taking steps to wean your child off of this habit. Ultimately, children can end up developing a misaligned bite, palate issues, overbite, and speech problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can You Discourage Your Child from Sucking Their Thumb?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just like any other routine practice, thumb-sucking can be habitual, so your child may not even notice that they\u2019re doing it. Here are some steps that you can take to try to discourage your child from sucking their thumb as they get older:<\/p>\n\n\n\n