Thumb-sucking: Helping your child stop
Why is it important to stop prolonged thumb-sucking?
Thumb-sucking that continues for years may cause a child to develop dental problems. Thumb-sucking can cause a child's teeth to become improperly aligned (malocclusion) or push the teeth outward, sometimes malforming the roof (upper palate) of the mouth. Malocclusion usually corrects itself when the child stops thumb-sucking. However, the longer thumb-sucking continues, the more likely it is that orthodontic treatment will be needed to correct any resulting dental problems.
A child may also develop speech problems, including mispronouncing Ts and Ds, lisping, and thrusting out the tongue when talking.
In addition, a child may be teased or shamed by others if he or she continues to thumb-suck as an older child.
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| Author: | Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: October 2, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine | |
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