Most children outgrow the habit of sucking their thumb (or needing a pacifier) between the ages of two and four. If you or your dentist are concerned that prolonged thumb sucking is adversely affecting your preschooler’s teeth, you can try the following:
- Help your child feel more secure by offering more comfort and encouragement
- Spend more quality time together
- Engage your child in activities that distract from thumb sucking during the day
- Wash your child’s hands often with a strongly scented soap
- Put socks over your child’s hands at night
- Invest in a night light if a fear of the dark is the root of the problem
- Create a special ritual that doesn’t involve finger sucking for dealing with anxiety-ridden situations like being hospitalized or being separated from parents (carrying a stuffed animal, a favorite blanket, or a heart pillow with a lipstick kiss)
- Praise your child whenever possible for “not sucking their thumb like a baby”
- Ask your dentist about a substance you can paint on a child’s thumb to make it less tasty
Give us a call. We can help.