Sucking a thumb is a normal comfort habit for babies and toddlers, and Better Health notes that most children stop somewhere between two and four years of age. Gentle encouragement usually works better than pressure. If the habit carries on for a long time, it can start to push the front teeth out of position, so it is worth knowing when to ask for help.
We cover the full picture, including dummies, how the bite can change and practical ways to help a child give up the habit, in our main article: Thumb sucking and dummies: how they affect children's teeth.
Better Health suggests praise and small rewards for time without sucking, distractions such as a toy or a cuddle, and reminders like a glove or adhesive bandage, while avoiding nagging. The child needs to want to stop for these to work. Related topics are covered in dummies and pacifiers and tongue thrust and open bite in children.
At Lumi Dental, our oral health therapists see children and families and can check how the teeth are developing at a routine visit. Find out more on our general dentist page, or see the current deals page for new patient offers.
