{"id":350,"date":"2021-03-11T16:50:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T16:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.midlandkidsdentist.com\/blog\/?p=350"},"modified":"2021-03-20T16:58:13","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T16:58:13","slug":"thumb-sucking-habits-in-children-and-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.midlandkidsdentist.com\/blog\/thumb-sucking-habits-in-children-and-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can Thumb-Sucking Affect Your Child\u2019s Oral Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pacifier use and thumb-sucking are two completely natural habits that kids develop to help them feel comforted and safe. However, once they get to a certain age, it can start to impact the way their mouth forms, causing a variety of issues that they\u2019ll need to deal with as they get older. Read on to learn about how you can discourage older children to stop thumb-sucking<\/a>, and what issues can result as they age if they continue this habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Problems That Can Arise from Thumb-Sucking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The good news is, if your child is sucking their thumb or on a pacifier, there\u2019s no need to worry. It isn\u2019t until they begin growing that it can become an issue. According to the American Dental Association, children typically naturally stop using pacifiers and sucking their thumbs between the ages of two and four years old. Sometimes, stress, anxiety, and separation can increase how often children do this as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your child continues thumb-sucking once their teeth are almost completely grown in, oral problems may arise, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n