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THUMB SUCKING IN CHILDREN AND ITS MANAGEMENT TREATMENT IN THANE

When you see your 6 month old baby go to sleep peacefully with his thumb in his mouth doesn’t he look adorable !!!!

Does your 4 year old child still has the habit of thumb sucking ?? if yes then its time for you to help your child.

THUMB SUCKING

Thumb sucking is when the child puts his / her thumb in the mouth a nd keeps sucking it.

This  habit is commonly seen in the 2st and 2nd year of life and is considered normal. As the child crosses the age of 2 this habit usually disappears. But if it continues even after preschool then it is considered abnormal.

If it is not stopped or treated at the right time it will have grave effects on the child’s dental health and jaw growth

It is important to note the age at which the child is thumb sucking to identify the cause

  • When the child is born he /she will suck any object that comes in his/ her mouth. This is because of presence of sucking reflex. This sucking helps the child during breast feeding. It gives the child great deal of warmth , comfort and pleasure.
  • During the 1st few weeks of life  this habit is usually associated with hunger (i.e. when hunger is not satisfied).
  • During eruption of milk teeth thumb is used as a teething device .
  • If older children are having this habit then it is ana ct of releasing an emotional stress that they are unable to cope with.

CAUSES OF THUMB SUCKING

EMOTIONAL FACTOR  plays a very important role in development of this habit. Thumb sucking for psychological satisfaction during infancy is normal but if it continues even after the child grows up then it indicates an underlying abnormal psychological development.

  • Children who are neglected by their parents either due to lack of time or due to more number of siblings.
  • Children who are punished and scolded often by their parents for trivial matters.
  • Children having working mothers have to spend a lot of time with care taker . This might create a feeling of insecurity and loneliness in the child. The child might keep sucking his thumb in these situations a it gives the child great deal of pleasure and comfort.

Socio – economic status  in families with good socio economic status the mother can easily satisfy the child’s hunger. In families with poor socio – economic status the mother may not be able to satisfy the child’s hunger completely with breast feeding. In  such infants thumb sucking habit is commonly seen as they try to satisfy their hunger by sucking the thumb.

Habit   sometimes there is no psychological factor involved . the child does it just out of habit.

EFFECTS OF THUMB SUCKING

  • When the child places a thumb / finger between the upper and lower front teeth , it causes a direct outward pressure on the upper front teeth (incisors) and an inward pressure on the lower front teeth. this leads to outward displacement of upper incisors and inward displacement of lower incisors
  • This is mainly seen in children who sleep the whole night with their thumb in the mouth.
  • It leads to an open bite .
  • It increases the risk of infection because thumb / finger is not sterile.
  • The thumb will appear red and chapped
  •  The upper jaw ( maxilla) is constricted.

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

  • Do not scold the child for the habit.
  • First find out the cause of the habit.
  • If the child is doing it just out of boredom then engage the child in other activities like fun games , drawing etc. this decreases the chance of practising the habit.
  • If the child is sucking the thumb because of feeling of insecurity , loneliness, anxiety, first try to find out the cause of anxiety.
  • Adequate breast feeding is important so that the child’s hunger is satisfied.
  • Your dentist could be if great help in encouraging the child to quit the habit.
  • Do not nag , scold or shame the child for the habit.
  • If all these attempts fail you can apply bitter or distasteful agents like asafetida on the child’s finger.
  • Even bandage and long sleeve night gowns can be used to prevent the thumb from reaching the mouth.Stop-Thumb-Sucking-Pink-Sun-02.jpg
  • Ace bandage should be used only in children who are willing to discontinue the habit and have no psychological reason behind it.
  •  If all remedies fail your dentist will give  you habit breaking appliance.

Conclusion

Remember not all thumb sucking will cause serious damage. The intensity and frequency of thumb sucking should be noted. If a child just passively places his thumb in the mouth without sucking it , then the chances of having jaw and teeth problems are lesser as compared to a child who vigorously and continuously sucks the thumb.

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