Thumb sucking (and finger sucking) is one of the most common habits during childhood. Some children suck their thumb for safety even before birth. While babies use sucking in order to get nutrition, they experience certain pleasurable sensations, associated with the fulfillment from food and tenderness.
CAUSES OF THUMB SUCKING
For much younger children thumbsucking can be just a way to relieve the feeling of hunger. About 70% to 90% of infants are sucking their thumb, but most of them gradually stop on their own between ages 3 and 6.
Trying to explain the causes of thumb sucking in children, psychologists suggest that some children look for a way to continue the once necessary and pleasantly soothing experience of nutritional sucking, thus forming the thumb or other finger sucking habits. Sucking their thumb becomes for some children a substitute for comfort, pleasure, and safety.
In other cases it is nothing more than a habit, sometimes established even before birth, with no underlying causes. But if you notice that the habit becomes more intense when ever the child feels that his security is threatened, then the causes of thumb sucking are clearly emotional.
WHEN THUMBSUCKING BECOMES A PROBLEM ?
Although thumb sucking is a normal habit it causes serious teeth problems if it continues long after the eruption of permanent teeth. The problem gets more serious if it continues after the age of four or five.
Results of thumb sucking
Prolonged finger sucking can create crowded, crooked teeth, or bite problems. The child may also develop speech problems or problems with swallowing properly. Protrusion and displacement of front teeth are usual results of thumb sucking. This can affect the child's appearance and cause further emotional problems.
In some cases thumbsucking is substituted by another dangerous habit of placing pencils between the teeth or biting the lips.
If the child shows a strong tendency to thumbsucking, it is preferable to encourage the substitution of finger sucking habits by a pacifier habit, since it is easier to stop it later.
- Cloverdale Dentist