Can Finger and Thumb-Sucking Damage Toddler Teeth?
Have you ever wondered when your baby should stop sucking his thumb? Have you ever wondered whether thumb or finger sucking spoils small teeth? As a mother and as a dentist, I have to ask this question. The answer is yes and no.
Thumb and finger sucking is safe for small teeth up to a certain age. Generally, thumb or finger sucking is safe until around age four. Children who suck their thumb or finger usually get what the general public calls "broken teeth." You can take help from pediatric dentists for thumb sucking prevention in children.
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This occurs when the teeth at the front of the mouth protrude and appear large and non-linear with the rest of the teeth. This occurs because children's teeth move easily and thus take the form of objects placed between them.
Over time, you will find that your thumb or finger will fit into the front of your toddler's teeth like a lock. If thumb sucking is stopped before the age of four, the teeth will usually return to their normal position in the mouth and appear less "crooked".
However, as the child grows, the teeth move more easily and therefore may not return to their original position. Because permanent teeth follow the pattern of inclusion of small teeth, they usually enter where the baby teeth are.
After the tiny teeth are gone, the new permanent adult teeth will usually stay in that new position and hold on much stronger. Because they hold on tightly compared to small teeth, they are more likely to return to their normal, "undistorted" position in the mouth is very small.