Take Positive Action with Your Child’s Thumb-Sucking Habit
February 12, 2019 | By Molarbear
Amongst favorite blankets, teddy bears, and nap time, thumb sucking can also be one of the most comforting aspects of childhood. Your child’s thumb sucking habit when noticing for the first time can be an alarming situation for you. It can be worrisome when they grow and it’s difficult to get rid of their habit which can cause many dental problems. But taking a very positive way to deal with the situation is a must, says pediatric dentist near me.
Harms Caused by Thumb Sucking
- Sucking a thumb can lead to many orthodontic problems says pediatric dentist near 77084 leading to have many orthodontic treatments like braces, Invisalign and bridges in the future.
- Thumb sucking when the kid has growing permanent teeth makes the front teeth and misaligned with the bottom teeth
- Thumb sucking can even lead to lisping or inability to pronounce Ts and Ds correctly
- Kids have a tendency to not wash their hands all the time and there’s always the risk of germs being spread from their hands to mouth leading to many diseases
- The major harm is the misalignment of teeth that’s caused by thumb sucking habit
- Thumb sucking can also lead to developing bite issues
Positive Ways to Deal With Thumb Sucking
According to pediatric dentist Houston handling this issue positively helps the kid understand about his habit and would learn to cope with overcoming bad habits.
- Go for the carrot approach. Reward them when they remember and don’t suck their thumb. Make them meet the standards by making them forget about the habit by rewarding them at every step.
- Now, thumb sucking a way of self-soothing in kids. Find newer ways or involve them in activities that are comforting. Replace the comforting by teaching them or showing them to hug a stuffed animal.
- Have regular visits to a pediatric dentist and get guidance from them to improve your kid’s oral health.
Every kid is different and handling the situation will also depend upon your kid. Family and friends should support the kid from getting rid of thumb sucking.