At what age should finger or thumb sucking be stopped in a child?

Many infants suck their fingers, thumbs, or a pacifier.  This is as part of their normal development.  Unfortunately if these habits are not stopped by a certain age, they can cause damage to developing teeth and jaws.  The general age that any oral habit should stop is age 2, this is the age when all of  a child’s baby teeth should be in their mouth.  If a habit continues after this age; a few majors dental issues will arise.  First a narrow or constricted upper jaw will develop.  This is a result of the constant inward pressure by the cheeks during the sucking action.  Another result of a prolonged oral habit is flared or pushed out upper front teeth.  This will give a presentation as “buck teeth,” which have much more of a chance to be traumatized if a child falls or hits his/her mouth.  These are all reasons to make sure that a finger, thumb or pacifier habit is stopped as early as possible in a child’s development.  If a habit persists; an orthodontist should be consulted and a strategy should be made to stop the habit and correct any dental issues that have formed.

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• Posted under Doctor's Corner
• Taged as buck teeth, constricted upper jaw, damage to developing teeth, finger or thumb sucking, prolonged oral habit, pushed out upper front teeth