ALL FINGERS & THUMBS
FINGER sucking
Many babies and children suck on their fingers during the first few years of their lives. Finger sucking can provide them a sense of security and happiness; it can be a source of a comfort to them. Some children suck their fingers, hands, or their entire fists in addition to, or instead of their thumbs.
Finger sucking is a completely natural instinct and generally harmless for a child. According to medical experts most children will stop sucking their fingers naturally by the age of 4. However persistent finger sucking can cause problems, including dental issues such as an overbite or finger infections.
What Dentists Say about FINGER Sucking
Donna at IQ Orthodontics explains: “Digit sucking has a huge emotional attachment in young children and so it can be a very difficult habit to break.”
Thumb Sucking
Prolonged thumb or finger sucking can have a detrimental effect on the development of children’s teeth and thats exactly why we have set up these clinics.
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The Dentist’s View
Hear from three dentists told us their views on the effects of thumb sucking on teeth and what they recommended to parents who were struggling to get their children to stop.
Read More >Dr LINA Kotecha
From Glen Dental, Leicester explained…“Once permanent teeth come in, sucking may cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth. It can also cause changes in the roof of the mouth, which in turn affect speech and the bite of the teeth.”
the intensity of the sucking is a factor that determines whether or not dental problems may result. If children rest their thumbs passively in their mouths, they are likely to cause fewer problems than those who vigorously suck their thumbs. Some aggressive thumb suckers may develop problems with their baby (primary) teeth as well as their permanent teeth.
Dr Dan Shaffer
from Pure Dentistry, Harpenden said, “Prolonged and vigorous thumb sucking can create problems with the palate and the formation of the teeth, but some children find it very hard to stop the habit.
We are delighted to team up with Thumbsie® which has been really successful for our patients. It’s such a positive way to help and it’s our “go to” solution.”
Andrew MacGregor
from Park Orthodontics in Glasgow said…“The longer the thumb sucking continues, the more difficult these features are to correct and often teeth remain poorly aligned for the rest of their lives.”
Dr MacGregor adds “As the adult teeth come through in a thumb sucker they become more prominent or ‘goofy’ and the bite becomes misaligned and this can lead to so-called cross bites and open bites.”