Thumb Sucking

Do you have a thumb sucker in your family?  I’ve had 5!  So even without my orthodontic training, I would be an expert by now!

There are a couple things to keep in mind when it comes to thumb sucking.  First, the habit does not cause any real “damage” until the permanent incisors start to erupt (usually age 6-7).  So thumb sucking with baby teeth is fairly harmless.

Second, thumb sucking either as the permanent teeth erupt, or once the permanent teeth are in, can cause serious damage to the teeth and the bite, often requiring a lot of treatment to correct.  I usually see it manifested with flared upper teeth, an openbite, and a narrow palate (upper jaw).

So what’s the moral of the story?  STOP THE HABIT BEFORE THE PERMANENT TEETH COME IN! Now, how do we do that?

I’ll tell you this – the older the child, the harder it is to correct because they can “undo” what we do to try and interfere.  For example, I’ve used the 3^rd birthday as the perfect time to stop my children from thumb sucking, and I’ve had great success doing it in a one-month period of time without even needing to put anything in their mouth.

I don’t like cementing habit reminders in a child’s mouth because it’s there all the time (when they talk, when they eat), and although it’s effective, it’s extremely bothersome to the child and it has to be in place for upwards of 6 months.

The better alternative is to place something on the thumb itself.  I’ve had a perfect track record with an appliance called the THUMB GUARD, manufactured by medetal.  It costs about $75, and you can order it directly from the internet (you don’t even have to come see me or pay me anything!).  You will receive 2 clear rubber thumb guards, 60 plastic hospital bracelets for securing them, and a DVD demonstrating how they work and how to properly secure them.  The great thing about the thumb guard is that the child can eat and talk normally, but they can’t suck their thumb.  As the parent, you have to be very diligent to keep the thumb guards on your child for an entire month without fail, but after that the habit will be beat!

And getting back to age … An older child will be able to take the guards off, so if you can do it by the time your child is 3, they won’t be able to figure out how to get it off!  It will make it much easier to beat the habit!

Another good method is a polish that you can paint on the thumb called Mavala Stop. You can also order this product on the internet.  It tastes HORRIBLE!!  (Yes, as your fearless leader I’ve actually tried it myself!).  And it will last 2 days.  It’s clear (and thus less noticeable than the thumb guards), but what I’ve found is that if your child sucks his/her thumb while sleeping, they may suck the thumb despite the Mavala, and then wake up crying and spitting from the bad taste in their mouth.  So even though they won’t suck when they are awake enough to taste it, they still may suck in their sleep.

I hope these tips give you some ideas for beating the thumb habit while it’s still manageable.  Believe me, I see teens and adults who haven’t beat the habit, and it’s a lot harder to stop the older you get!

Let me know if you have any questions about thumb sucking (you can post in the comments section below) or if I can be of assistance to you in any way!  Thanks!

–Dr. Wyatt