Most babies naturally find comfort in sucking their thumb or a dummy, and this habit is completely normal in infants and toddlers. For little ones under age four, dummy or thumb sucking rarely causes dental problems. However, if this habit continues beyond ages 4 to 5, it can start to affect the development of their teeth and jaw.
The Long-Term Effects of Thumb Sucking
Long-term dummy or thumb sucking might cause their front teeth to stick out or protrude, creating an open bite (where the front teeth don't meet when biting) or lead to alignment issues with their teeth and jaw. The intensity of the sucking is often more important than the habit itself, as vigorous sucking tends to cause more problems than gentle sucking.
If your child is still sucking their thumb or dummy after age 5, have a chat with us about gentle ways to help them stop. We can suggest positive strategies that won't upset your little one. Remember, most children naturally give up this habit on their own, so there's usually no need to worry too much in the early years.