At Willowbrook Dental Clinic, we can help you and your child work together to break childhood habits like thumb sucking. Book Appointment
Breaking the Thumb Sucking Habit
Most parents know that thumb sucking in babies and young children is a normal, self-soothing behaviour. It's when your child doesn't grow out of this habit that dental health problems can occur.
The problems begin when the permanent teeth begin to grow in – because continued thumb sucking can push the teeth out of alignment over time.
Permanent teeth begin to develop around age 5, so, ideally, your child stops her thumb sucking habit well before this time.
If you are finding it difficult to get your child to break this habit, we can help by creating a a dental appliance, which is cemented behind your child's front teeth, to discourage thumb sucking. The appliance isn't uncomfortable, but it helps make thumb sucking less enjoyable.