It might sound funny to some, but babies are natural suckers. In fact, many suck their thumbs or fingers while still in the womb.
It’s an entirely natural behavior that allows them to feed and grow. It also helps them feel more comfortable and settle into a great big new world.
It’s no wonder, then, that when babies can’t quite find their thumbs and don’t have anything on which to suck, they start to get a little agitated and start to cry.
No one wants their baby to be uncomfortable — and no one enjoys the sound of a crying baby — so that’s when many parents make the decision to turn to pacifiers.
When used correctly, pacifiers do exactly what their name suggests — they pacify babies by satiating their desire to suck on something.
But many parents worry that using a pacifier (or letting their child suck her or his thumb, for that matter) can lead to adverse effects. In other words, parents worry that pacifiers and thumb sucking can lead to a severe overbite.
It’s a legitimate concern, and any parent who is worried about it needs to know the truth: prolonged thumb sucking and improper pacifier use can certainly lead to long-term problems, including a severe overbite.
The Truth About Pacifiers and Severe Overbites
According to the American Dental Association, letting your child suck his thumb or relying too heavily on a pacifier may cause the mouth’s structure to change in unnatural ways.
Thumb sucking and pacifier use can lead to changes in the roof of the mouth. It can cause problems with the development of primary (or baby) teeth. And yes, it can cause a severe overbite.
This might be jarring news for parents who have come to rely on a pacifier, or for those whose children seem to be addicted to sucking their thumbs. But the good news is that most children stop relying on thumb sucking and pacifiers on their own — typically between the ages of 2 and 4.
However, if your child seems to have fallen in love with sucking his or her thumb or just can’t break the pacifier habit, you might want to take some steps to move them along before the sucking does permanent damage:
- Reinforce positive behavior by praising your child for not sucking his or her thumb or not using a pacifier.
- Reward your child when he or she avoids sucking his or her thumb during stressful situations.
- Ask your dentist to talk to your child about what can happen if he or she continues to suck his or her thumb or use a pacifier.
Break Habits Early On
The other option is to start working to break the habits as early as possible. It may come with some crying and a little discomfort, but that’s a small price to pay when compared with working to fix a severe overbite.
Do you want to learn more about breaking the habit and early intervention? Then contact our team at Kapadia Orthodontics. We’ll help advise you on the right treatment path.
