Thumb-Sucking Habits and Your Child’s Oral Health
What Signs Should I Watch For
Consequences of Thumb Sucking
How Can I Help My Child Quit Pacifier Use and Thumb Sucking
Be supportive and positive! Instead of punishing your child for aggressive sucking, give praise when they don’t. Punishing them for the activity is likely to create resentment, and a lack of trust in your judgment. Explain clearly what may happen to their teeth if they keep sucking and support their attempts to stop.
If you notice your child sucking when they are anxious, help them reduce their anxiety. In that situation, sucking on their fingers is a symptom of a larger problem, so the larger problem should be addressed first to ensure it does not spiral into worse symptoms. You can try putting a band-aid on your child’s thumb or fingers, or a sock over their hand at night. Let them know that this is not a punishment, but rather, a way to help them remember to avoid the behavior. You can also try taking note of what times your child tends to suck their thumb and create diversions during those times. As always, use your best judgment. If you suspect your child’s finger sucking is affecting their oral health, give us a call.