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Thumb Sucking

 
General Info

Thumb sucking in children has always caused embarrassment to many parents. The parents were more concerned over the social embarrassment caused by this habit rather than the actual physical damage caused by it.

This silly habit as it appears to many parents not only causes abnormally arranged teeth but also implicates the mental state of the child.

Causes
Thumb sucking can either be a non-compulsive act or a compulsive oral habit.

Non-Compulsive act:

As children grow, they pick up or drop habits depending on its acceptability. These habits are usually called non-compulsive habits or acts. Thumb sucking can be one such habit, which can be seen from birth to the age of 16. On an average most of the children stop this habit by the age 4. There are some children, however, who can continue the habit to as late as 12-15 years. In these children, thumb sucking is usually a way to relieve the frustration of hunger.

Compulsive Act:

Thumb sucking can be called compulsive when it has acquired a fixation in the child to the extent that he retreats to the practice of this habit when ever his security is threatened by events, which occur in his world. Unlike the non-compulsive habit, the child tends to suffer from increased anxiety when he attempts to correct the habit. The habit becomes his safety valve to release  emotional pressure, whenever it becomes, too much to cope with. Lack of love and affection by the parents towards the child plays a major role in making the child emotionally insecure and thus making him resort to habits like thumb sucking.

Symptoms

If the habit is discontinued before the permanent teeth eruption, it can be considered harmless. 

Continuous thumb sucking leads to many ill effects. The main symptoms of this problem is shown by the teeth and they are:
Displacement of the child’s permanent teeth due to the uneven forces placed on the teeth by the thumb.
The upper and lower front teeth may not approximate with each other.
The upper front teeth may flare out.
The open bite or lack of approximation of upper and lower front teeth may result in speech difficulties during pronunciation.
As a result of the flared out or protruding front teeth the child may end up fracturing these teeth more often.
Protruding and uneven teeth  change the facial appearance. This can cause an inferiority complex in the young mind.
Diagnosis

Any child above the age of 4 with protruding anterior teeth may be affected by thumb sucking. A detailed history about the habit is very helpful. The frequency and duration of this habit can help in evaluating the extent of the habit.

The thumb used by the child normally appears to be very clean compared to the other finger.

 

Treatment
It can be treated by psychological methods also.

Psychological Method:

The child is guided by the dentist and parent to consciously put an end to the thumb sucking habit over a period. This is possible only if the child is psychologically willing and wants to stop the habit.

Children often combine thumb-sucking habit with other secondary habits such as hair pulling or nose probing. Frequently making the secondary habit impossible to perform can break the primary habit.

It is very important not to criticise the child. The child needs a lot of support and affection. He should be told about the ill effects of sucking the thumb to reinforce his determination to stop  thumb sucking.
Extra oral method:

The other simple methods are:
Painting the child’s thumb or finger with an unpleasant tasting substance.
Tapping the thumb with plaster so as to prevent thumb sucking.

The above-mentioned methods will succeed depending upon the attitude of the parent. The parents should in someway reward the child for “growing out of the habit” during the procedure both by their action and by a small token prize.  This will make a deep impression on the child and orient him towards completely breaking of the habit.

The parent should also be warned that there is always the possibility that a more deleterious habit will spring up in its place if the present one is suppressed.

Intra oral methods:
This is done by fabricating appliances, which are then fitted into the mouth of the child by the dentist. They are normally viewed as punishment devices by the child there by sometime producing severe emotional disturbances. If the appliances are going to convert a happy youngster into a nervous child overnight, it is not worth it.
More Info

There are other oral habits, which should be brought to the notice of the child’s dentist. These habits are lip sucking, tongue thrusting, nail biting, mouth breathing and bruxism.

All the above-mentioned habits will definitely takes its toll on the teeth. Therefore, early identification and treatment of these habits  are necessary to ensure a good set of teeth and a lovely smile.

FAQ

Is thumb sucking a natural habit?

Yes, thumb sucking a natural habit until the age of 4. Continuation of the habit beyond the age of 6 will result in mal-alignment of teeth. Most children will give up this habit by themselves, but in cases where this doesn’t occur a dentist should be consulted.

Is there any other effect of thumb sucking other than that on the teeth?

Sucking on a dirty finger can make the child prone to infection, as during this stage children normally tend to play with sand or dirt.

 
Glossary
Bruxism- Grinding of teeth.
 

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