Children are born with a “suckling” reflex. This is what causes babies to turn their heads toward the mother when their cheek is stroked, in anticipation of milk, and to swallow when liquid is present in the mouth. In a very real sense, the suckling reflex is essential to life.

As children grow, they are no longer nursed but may continue to desire the comfort of sucking. If no bottle is available, the child may turn to the thumb, which mimics the nipple in contour. Once a child has started thumb sucking, the habit is very difficult to break.

This can cause a problem for the child in more than one way. First, the physical toll can be heavy. Children who suck their thumbs often raise blisters on the fingers, which can become infected. The shape of the mouth can be altered by continual thumb sucking, with the palate growing out of shape and affecting facial bones and nasal passages. If it is not stopped, prolonged thumb sucking can harm a child’s health.

Psychological issues are also of concern with thumb sucking. Children may tease their peers who continue to thumb suck, and parents may nag children about this habit out of fear or embarrassment.

Two treatments are approved to control prolonged thumb sucking: oral appliances and oral myology. Oral appliances must be inserted by a dentist and interfere with a child’s ability to get the thumb into the mouth. Oral myology combines emotional and psychological support to encourage children to stop thumb sucking.

A pediatric dentist can determine the best course of treatment for the children. If prolonged thumb sucking has lead to misalignment of the teeth, they can usually be fixed with orthodontic treatments.

Source: Local Dentist

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