Worry about thumb sucking usually peaks long before it needs to. A toddler who sucks a thumb to settle is doing something normal, and most children stop somewhere between two and four. The time to pay closer attention is when sucking is still frequent and forceful as the adult front teeth come through.
We cover the whole subject in one place, in our article Thumb sucking and dummies: how they affect children's teeth. It explains which bite changes a dentist looks for, why the length and strength of the habit matter more than the habit itself, and calm ways to help a child give it up.
Two related articles may also help: dummies and children's teeth, and open bite and how it is treated.
If you would like your child's bite checked, see our general dentist page, or visit current deals for details of our free braces and aligner consults.
