{"id":115,"date":"2021-02-09T14:39:38","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T14:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentalexcellencemelbourne.com\/blog\/?p=115"},"modified":"2025-10-28T15:58:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T15:58:41","slug":"stopping-thumb-sucking-for-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentalexcellencemelbourne.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/stopping-thumb-sucking-for-children\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can Thumb-Sucking Affect Your Child\u2019s Oral Development?"},"content":{"rendered":"Thumb and pacifier-sucking aren\u2019t totally bad habits! In fact, they\u2019re great coping skills for infants to comfort themselves. It\u2019s not until a certain age, when their oral cavity starts developing and teeth begin growing in that this habit can begin to cause some problems. Read on to learn how thumb-sucking can affect your child and what you can do to help them stop doing it this Children\u2019s Dental Health Month.\r\n

Why Do Children Suck Their Thumbs?<\/h2>\r\nIf your infant starts sucking their thumb or is only appeased when you put a pacifier in their mouth, you\u2019re not doing anything wrong! They\u2019re actually born with an instinct to do this, and it\u2019s a completely healthy and natural habit. You shouldn\u2019t keep them from doing this either, because it can be an early tool to help them cope when they\u2019re away from you and help themselves feel safe and comfortable. A study conducted by a doctor even found that you can reduce your child\u2019s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by offering them a pacifier whenever they nap or sleep.\r\n

When Should a Child Stop Sucking Their Thumb?<\/h2>\r\nIt\u2019s safe to say that thumb-sucking and pacifier use isn\u2019t harmful for infants; however, once your child gets to the age of around three or four, you\u2019ll want to start encouraging them to break the habit<\/a>. This is because at this age, their mouth will be in its key development stages. The constant intense, long, and forceful suction from their habit can cause their oral cavity to develop with a misaligned bite or jutted out teeth, which will require serious orthodontic intervention down the road. It can also lead to narrowed airways that can make breathing difficult.\r\n

Encouraging Weaning for Healthy, Developing Smiles<\/h2>\r\nThere are a few different ways that you can help wean your child from their pacifier or thumb, depending on which they prefer:\r\n