Does thumb sucking damage children's teeth?
Thumb sucking rarely harms teeth in babies and toddlers, and the American Dental Association notes that most children stop between ages two and four. Problems are more likely when forceful sucking continues after the adult front teeth arrive: it can create an open bite, push the upper front teeth forward and narrow the upper jaw. Dummies have similar effects. At Creative Arts in Dubai we check the bite and refer for an orthodontic assessment when needed.
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Why do children suck their thumbs, and when do they stop?
Sucking is a reflex babies are born with, and many suck a thumb or finger even before birth. It soothes them, helps them settle to sleep and comforts them when they are tired, bored or anxious. A dummy (pacifier) does the same job. In the first years of life, neither is a bad habit; it is a normal way of self-soothing.
According to the American Dental Association, children usually stop sucking on their own between the ages of two and four. Many simply grow out of it as they find other ways to settle, and nursery or school life makes daytime sucking less likely. The habit becomes worth a closer look when it carries on towards the age the adult front teeth come through, usually around six or seven.
How does thumb sucking move teeth?
Teeth sit in balance between the lips and cheeks on the outside and the tongue on the inside. A thumb pressed into the mouth for hours a day upsets that balance. It pushes the upper front teeth forward and the lower front teeth back, and it holds the front teeth apart so they cannot fully come down to meet. At the same time, the cheeks squeeze inwards during sucking while the tongue sits low, which can narrow the upper jaw.
The ADA points out that how a child sucks matters as much as whether they suck. A thumb resting passively in the mouth carries less risk than vigorous sucking that you can hear, and a habit that happens only briefly at bedtime matters less than one that fills much of the day and night. Three questions usually decide the effect: how hard, how often and for how many years.
What changes can thumb sucking or a dummy cause?
These are the bite changes most often linked to long-standing sucking habits. Not every child who sucks a thumb develops them, and only an examination tells which, if any, your child has.
| Change | What you may notice | Why it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Anterior open bite | A gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together; biting into a sandwich is hard | The thumb or dummy sits between the front teeth and stops them meeting |
| Protruding upper front teeth (increased overjet) | Upper front teeth that stick forward, sometimes called buck teeth | Pressure from the thumb tilts the upper teeth forward and the lower teeth back |
| Narrow upper jaw and crossbite | Upper back teeth that close inside the lower ones, sometimes with the jaw shifting to one side | Cheek pressure during sucking with the tongue held low |
| High, narrow palate | A deep, narrow roof of the mouth | Pressure of the thumb against the palate during growth |
| Speech and tongue position | A lisp or the tongue pushing forward between the teeth when swallowing | The tongue adapts to fill the gap left by an open bite |
| Skin on the thumb | A red, callused or cracked thumb or finger | Constant moisture and suction; can become infected |
Our guide to types of bite explains these terms in plain words.
Is a dummy better than thumb sucking?
For the teeth, the ADA says dummies affect the bite in essentially the same ways as thumbs and fingers. The real difference is practical: a dummy can be taken away and gradually limited, while a thumb is always available. That is why many parents find a dummy habit easier to end. Orthodontic-shaped dummies are marketed as kinder to the teeth, but they still hold the front teeth apart and are not a reason to keep the habit going longer.
Many dentists suggest gradually limiting a dummy to sleep times after the first year and aiming to stop it by about age three, well before the adult front teeth arrive. Never dip a dummy in honey, syrup or juice, which causes decay, and replace worn or cracked dummies.
When is thumb sucking worth a dental check?
Most toddlers who suck a thumb need nothing more than patience. Book a check if any of these apply.
Still sucking at five or six
The habit carries on as the adult front teeth are due, particularly if it happens during the day as well as at night.
You can see a gap at the front
The front teeth do not meet when your child bites together, or the upper teeth are clearly sticking out.
The jaw shifts when biting
Your child slides the lower jaw to one side to close, a sign of a crossbite that is worth catching early.
Speech or swallowing concerns
A lisp, or the tongue pushing forward between the teeth, alongside the habit. A speech therapist may also help.
A sore or infected thumb
Cracked skin, a red nail fold or repeated infections on the finger that is sucked.
How can you help your child stop thumb sucking?
Children stop most easily when they want to and feel supported, not when they are scolded. The ADA's advice centres on praise and comfort, and these steps follow the same idea:
- Wait for the right time. Before about age four, most children stop by themselves. Avoid starting a campaign during a stressful period such as a new sibling, a move or starting school.
- Praise, do not punish. Notice and praise the times your child is not sucking. Shaming or nagging tends to increase the anxiety that drives the habit.
- Look for the trigger. Many children suck while watching a screen, in the car or when falling asleep. Give busy hands something to hold, such as a soft toy or a squeeze ball.
- Comfort the worry behind it. If sucking happens when your child is anxious or tired, address that first with cuddles and a calmer routine.
- Let older children choose the method. A sticker chart, a small reward at the end of a week, or a plaster on the thumb as a reminder works better when your child helped pick it.
- Night-time reminders. A sock or cotton glove over the hand at bedtime helps children who suck only while asleep.
- Ask the dentist to talk to your child. Hearing from a dentist how the habit affects their teeth motivates many children.
The ADA notes that a dentist or paediatrician may suggest a bitter-tasting coating for the thumb, and that some children are prescribed a mouth appliance. These are reserved for persistent habits, after the gentler steps above have been tried, and should be planned by a professional who has examined your child.
Many changes improve when the habit stops early
When a sucking habit stops while the baby teeth are still in place, a mild open bite often closes as the adult teeth come through and the tongue and lips settle into a normal position. The longer forceful sucking continues into the years of adult teeth and jaw growth, the more likely changes are to need orthodontic treatment later. Stopping is worthwhile at any age.
What does an orthodontist check for a thumb-sucking child?
Around age seven, once the first adult molars and front teeth are through, a specialist orthodontist can see how the bite and jaws are developing. For a child with a sucking habit, the assessment looks at whether the front teeth meet, how far the upper teeth stick forward, whether the upper jaw is narrow or the jaw shifts on closing, and how the tongue behaves when swallowing. For most children the outcome is advice and monitoring rather than treatment.
At Creative Arts in Dubai, Dr. Duaa Ameen and Dr. Julia keep an eye on habits at every children's check-up, and our specialist orthodontists, Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz and Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko, carry out the children's orthodontic assessment. If an open bite or crossbite does need correcting later, our pages on open bite correction and crossbite correction explain the options. Other habits can shape the bite too; see our guide to mouth breathing in children.
Worried that a thumb or dummy habit is changing your child's bite? Book a children's orthodontic assessment with our specialist orthodontists in Dubai. It is an examination and explanation, not braces.
Children's assessment