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Teething

Glossary T Teething

It is completely normal and healthy for your young child to suck on a thumb, finger, or pacifier. Children usually give up sucking habits on their own by the time they are 4-5 years old. If they stop the habit at this age, the shape of the jaw is usually not affected and the teeth grow normally. Children who continue sucking on a pacifier, finger, or thumb when their permanent adult teeth start to come in are more likely to have bite problems.

Sucking can cause:

• The top front teeth to slant out
• The bottom front teeth to tilt in
• The upper and lower jaws to be misaligned
• The roof of the mouth to be narrowed
• The need for braces

Treatment:
Your doctor may decide to construct an appliance to discourage thumb sucking.