{"id":44,"date":"2022-11-03T05:55:01","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T05:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.surfsupdental.com\/blog\/?p=44"},"modified":"2025-11-12T19:09:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T19:09:36","slug":"is-thumb-sucking-bad-for-your-childs-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.surfsupdental.com\/blog\/is-thumb-sucking-bad-for-your-childs-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Thumb-Sucking Bad for Your Child\u2019s Oral Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Up to a certain point, it\u2019s normal for children to suck on their thumbs. But even though it\u2019s a common habit in youngsters, thumb-sucking is actually accompanied by oral health issues if it\u2019s left to continue for too long. Here\u2019s more from your dentist in Papillion<\/a> about the potentially negative effects that thumb-sucking can have on your child\u2019s oral health, along with some tips for helping them break the habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Potential Problems with Thumb-Sucking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s perfectly normal and safe for your little one to suck on their thumb, and the American Dental Association estimates that children often stop this behavior around ages 2 to 4. Even though thumb-sucking does have some potential benefits for your child, such as helping them cope with anxiety or stress, it can have some damaging effects if it becomes a long-term habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, prolonged thumb-sucking can negatively impact the development of your child\u2019s teeth, causing their upper and lower teeth not to come together evenly. These open bites can make it difficult for your child to properly eat and speak, aside from the obvious impact on their self-esteem. For these reasons, it\u2019s worth trying to help your child break their habit before it becomes problematic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for Breaking Your Child\u2019s Thumb-Sucking Habit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because your child\u2019s health history is unique, there\u2019s no exact time to encourage them to break the habit; however, by age 5, thumb-sucking can begin to contribute to oral health concerns like a misaligned bite. That said, some tips you can use to help discourage the habit include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n