9 Ways of Handling Your Child's Thumb Sucking Habit

As adults, all of us have our ways of relaxing. While we may indulge in reading or a sport, our children have their own ways of unwinding. Of the many things we observe in our babies as they learn and grow, Thumb Sucking is one of the commonest habit that is also the way for them to cope and relax.

Thumb sucking signifies so many things; that the baby is feeling hungry, that he or she is teething, and often it also shows insecurity. This is a normal and healthy part of an infant’s growth.

Infants often suck on thumbs, fingers, pacifiers, toys and even food during play and sleep. Sucking on an object gives them a sense of security and comfort. This habit usually lasts till the age of 4, often even up till 6 years.

If thumb sucking continues beyond 6 years, especially at the time permanent teeth are beginning to be formed, then it is a cause for concern, since the habit often leads to a whole host of dental problems.

Often after 5 years, children develop language skills that help them cope. Therefore the habit when continued beyond this age, may indicate children’s inability to cope or convey what they feel.

Depending on the intensity of the thumb sucking, frequency and duration, teeth can gradually get pushed out of their original position, can become misaligned, making them protrude and resulting in an ‘overbite’, a condition in which teeth don’t clamp down properly.

In addition, the misaligned teeth don’t close the mouth fully, causing malformed jaws as the years go by.

Thumb Sucking therefore has to be observed and stopped before it becomes a habit that causes harm and irreversible dental damage. If your child is approaching preschool and still shows signs of not overcoming the habit, then parents will have to intervene to know why it I so.

Below are 9 ways that you can help your child wean themselves off this habit;

•      DO try to gradually limit the time and place where your child sucks their thumb, either to the bedroom or house itself. Try to prevent them doing it outside in public. Explain that the activity must be restricted only to bedtime.
   
•      DON’T make it a tussle of wills. Thumb sucking is an involuntary habit, so ordering the child to ‘Stop’ won’t get you anywhere. He or she may hide and do it or turn hostile which doesn’t solve the problem. Try to praise them whenever you see them not doing it, rather than criticizing when he is. This is positive reinforcement. 

•      DO take time every now and then to talk to them about the habit. Help them understand why the habit isn’t good, and tell them you will be there whenever they want to stop. 

•      DON’T prevent them from thumb sucking after a stressful time or when they are injured. The child usually does it to seek comfort, and preventing them from doing it will traumatize them further. 

•      DO practice self-awareness with your child. If they are sucking their thumb, make them aware of what they are doing. Try to make them find other ways to soothe themselves, like hugging a stuffed animal or a toy.

•      DON’T replace the thumb sucking habit with handing them chocolates or lollipops. It is cruel to remove one habit and replace it with something worse.  
   
•       DO practice role play to make your child understand that he/she is growing up and there are some habits he cannot carry with him as he grows. Showing them how other grown-ups like their uncles and aunts, or the neighborhood policeman behave, can help them process whether they want to continue with the habit. 

•      DON’T try shoving a glove or mitten into their hands, whenever you catch them sucking their thumbs. When this is done as babies, it might not matter much, but when older, this will frustrate them and cause them to suck on their fingers more. 

•      DO remember, that although thumb sucking is worrying, the child will eventually grow out of it when he is ready. You may have tried everything you can, and yet do understand that your kid will grow out of it.

Thumb Sucking is a habit practiced by every child, but it starts to get worrying when it causes dental problems which can last a lifetime. Ensuring the child gets positive reinforcement to let go off the habit, rather than a harsh approach will help them understand and get rid of it sooner. It will also help in preventing some common dental problems that can develop later in life.

If you are seeing some teeth problems in your child due to this habit, please don't delay showing your pediatric dentist at the earliest, or reach out to the Small Bites Dental Clinic at
+918041256715 or +918025272614.

How to help a child who is anxious about the dentist - Part 2

In the first part of this blog we discussed finding a child-friendly dentist and how to help your child before an appointment.

Maybe you have a dental appointment approaching. How can both you and your dentist make things easier for your child during their visit?

How can the dentist help my child?

Treatment room at Small Bites

• Taking things one step at a time will help to build up confidence. It is usually best to start with a check-up and simple cleaning before moving onto other treatment.  
• Young children are not able to sit still or concentrate for long periods of time, so visits are best kept shorter or have breaks when needed.
• The dentist may introduce a "stop signal," like raising a hand, that can be used so that your child can let the dentist know if they are not comfortable or need a break.
• Distraction can be used to give your child something else to think about other than the dental treatment. For example, music, cartoons on a TV screen or simply chatting about something else.
• A good dentist will explain things in a way that your child can understand as they go along. Long explanations and words may be confusing for your child. It is best to have a separate chat with parents while the child plays it the waiting room if required.
• The dentist can first explain, and then demonstrate any tools or materials before using them. For example, an instrument can be used on the back of the hand or finger nail before it is used in the mouth so your child knows what it feels like. 
• Although the dentist should be friendly with your child they may need to use a sterner tone of voice if a child is not listening and following instructions much the same as a schoolteacher would.

Certificate of Bravery

• Positive Reinforcement - when a child behaves and cooperates well they should be rewarded with praise, stickers, a small gift or "bravery" certificate.

Should parents stay in the room for dental treatment?

This depends on your child's age and behaviour. Young children (below 4 years) tend to experience separation anxiety and therefore it is usually advised that parents stay in the room. 

Some children "play up" to their parents and behave better when they are not in the room. One solution for this is to allow the parent or carer to stay in the treatment room whilst the child behaves well, but ask them to go to the waiting room if the child is not listening and following instructions.  

How can I help my child during a dental visit?

• In the previous post we discussed the importance of staying positive and encouraging your child. 
• For young children, you may need to help support your child on your lap while that dentist checks their teeth as shown in the picture.

• If your child makes a fuss try to remain calm. Dentists who treat children regularly will have seen their share of tantrums and be prepared for this. Allow the dentist to guide you on how to best support you child.  
• Some children will "act up" at the dentist to try to avoid treatment. If they are immediately taken out of the treatment room they are more likely to do the same thing the next time. Instead it should be explained to the child what needs to be accomplished in that visit. If cooperation is difficult it is better to achieve a lesser goal than planned, for example, placing a temporary filling, than abandon treatment altogether.

It is better to use rewards after the treatment is over than to promise bribes before hand. 

Show your child how proud you are of them for each new achievement.

Finally - Prevention is better than cure

Although, with some help, the majority of children can learn to cope with (or maybe even enjoy!) visiting the dentist the goal should be to prevent the need for dental treatment as far as possible.

It's a great feeling to take your child for a check up and be told that there are no cavities!

Here are some tips for preventing dental decay and gum disease:

• Thorough tooth brushing twice a day, morning and night. For more brushing tips see this post (click for link).
• Rinsing out the mouth with water after eating.
• Eating a healthy diet and making snacks and drinks, between meals, sugar free as far as possible. 
• Dental sealants are a coating placed on the biting surface of the back molar teeth by a dentist. They protect the narrow pits and grooves of the tooth which can be prone to decay. See this post for more information (click for link).
• Regular check-ups not only get your child used to visiting the dentist but enable any early signs of dental disease to be spotted and prevented from progressing into a bigger problem.