Wednesday, January 18, 2012

How to Stop Thumb Sucking Habit

Thumb sucking habits are considered normal in infants and children as fun or entertaining activity, particularly when children are hungry or tired. But if the child is still sucking his thumb until the age of 4-6 years will be a negative effect. How to stop thumb-sucking child?

Thumb-sucking would peak when children between the ages of 18-20 months, and usually disappear when the child begins to grow and mature.

But the habit of thumb sucking beyond the age of 4-6 years may cause some abnormal condition in the oral cavity, such as dental malocclusion or deformation of bone tissue of the thumb.

Excessive thumb sucking habit and persistent in children, may be indicative of some emotional problems. Thumb-sucking can have a major impact on oral health of children after the age of 5 years.

Therefore, you should be able to stop the child not to do it again when the habit around age 3. Upper front teeth can be pushed to the front and lower front teeth pushed back because of the habit.

The following problems or conditions that can be caused by habits such as thumb sucking:

1. Palate will be pushed upwards causing various problems including speech problems.
2. Narrow dental arch.
3. Dental crowding due to a narrow dental arch.
4. The skin on the thumb cracked and callused.
5. Finger and toenail infections.
6. Increased risk of infection with pinworms.
7. Increased risk of other infections.

Thumb sucking may be fun and soothing for the children. But these habits if done continuously can eventually disrupt or cause problems in the oral cavity.

Ways to help your child stop sucking his thumb according to recommendations from the American Dental Association:

1. Rather than scold the child to stop sucking his thumb, it's better to offer praise when the child does not do it.

2. Find other ways that can offer the comfort and calm the anxiety of children. Anxiety is usually the reason a child has a habit of sucking his thumb.

3. Ask your dentist to explain to children about the effects that may result if the habit of thumb sucking.

4. Thumb bandaged child or mengoleskann something that has a bad taste. This method is the way recommended by pediatricians to stop thumb-sucking.

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