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The majority of pediatric dentists advise that kids stop sucking around their first birthday or shortly thereafter.
There are some major growth difficulties that can arise if your toddler or preschooler is still sucking their fingers, using a pacifier, or relying on a sippy cup on a regular basis.
Here are a few examples:
Bone Growth That Isn't Regular
When a thumb or finger applies irregular pressure on your child’s mouth (when sucking), it causes aberrant growth patterns in their:
- Taste buds (roof of the mouth)
- Teeth in the upper arch
- Mandible is a word that means "mandible" (lower jaw)
- Occlusion is the absence of something (biting relationship)
These skeletal discrepancies may become so large over time that they will necessitate surgical intervention later in life if not addressed early.
An “open bite,” in which the front of their mouth does not seal completely, is one of the most common.
Delays in speech
Sucking for an extended period of time changes the shape of your child’s mouth and the way their tongue moves.
When your child’s bones and teeth don’t form properly, it can lead to major speech delays or permanent speech difficulties.
If skeletal patterns are abnormal, even speech therapy may not be totally helpful.
Thrusting the Tongue
Thumb, finger, and pacifier sucking are all known to cause “tongue pushing,” an erratic swallowing habit.
When your child swallows, the tongue presses forward between the front teeth, rather than in the roof of the mouth and behind the top front teeth.
It’s usually caused by long-term sucking behaviors, and it’s tough to “cure” because it’s a taught impulse.
Splayed out front teeth are a common result of tongue pushing.
Disorders of the Jaw
When the bone growth patterns, tongue, and jaws stop functioning normally, it starts to spread to other parts of the face. The jaws of your youngster in this scenario.
If kids can’t swallow or chew properly, their TMJ will have to adjust to those unnatural interactions, which can cause joint pain and headaches over time.
Dental Emergencies are on the rise.
Sucking practices are known to cause splayed-out front teeth.
They’re more prone to fractures during frequent bumps or falls since they protrude more than the rest of the teeth—sometimes even between the lips.
Orthodontic requirements
Finally, pacifier and finger sucking can cause serious orthodontic issues that would not have occurred otherwise.
Without early intervention or growth adjustment, those abnormalities can lead to years of orthodontic therapy or possibly surgery in order to be corrected.
It is critical to intervene early.
Working with a pediatric dentist can help you spot any abnormal growth or movement patterns in your child’s mouth. It’s time to establish a game plan if your youngster is still sucking their finger(s) or using a pacifier.
