Thumb / Finger Habit

It is important to maintain good oral habits in children and just as important to understand and break the bad oral habits such as thumb and finger sucking. Sucking is normal for babies and young children so early intervention is not recommended. Most children stop this habit on their own between 2 and 4 years old and there is no reason to worry until the permanent front teeth start to erupt usually between the age of 5 or 6. If this habit continues it could cause the front teeth to shift causing buck teeth which would require orthodontic treatment.  Parents can develop a reward system to help your child break this habit, if that does not work your pediatric dentist may recommend a mouth appliance.    ........(Next Time......  Pediatric Dental Trauma)