3 Tips to Help Your Child Stop Sucking Their Thumb

Thumb-sucking may be a normal habit for kids, but prolonging the activity can eventually narrow the palate. This creates a higher roof as the child’s mouth adapts to the shape of the thumb.

Thumb-sucking is largely linked to crossbites, where the upper teeth will sit outside the lower teeth, but can also lead to general teeth alignment issues. Here, we’ll look at what you can do to help your child stop sucking their thumb in Derby, KS to potentially reduce the odds of a future orthodontic treatment.

Tips for Habit Control

Here are a few tips to keep the issue under control:

• Root cause: The first step is to identify when your child sucks their thumb. Usually, it’s due to stress or tiredness, so it’s important to start recognizing early signs before the behavior even starts.
• Barriers: Anything from mittens to fidget spinners can create a barrier between your child and their thumb. Even a small impediment, like picking up their toys, can make a big difference in cutting back on thumb-sucking.
• Praise: An orthodontist in Derby, KS can tell you that reward charts and praise can be good motivators for a child, especially if they’re used in conjunction with addressing the root cause of the issue. Small incentives don’t just give the child immediate gratification, it’s a reminder that you’re looking out for their well-being.

Talk to an Orthodontist in Derby, KS

If you think that your child may have already impacted their mouth, contact Derby Orthodontics to learn more about how Phase One treatments could help correct issues before your child reaches their teen years. The more you do now, the less you’ll have to do later!