Thumb sucking helps the development of the middle and lower face, inner ears, jaws and throat. It's necessary in the early years of life. Unborn children do it and infants suck their mothers' breasts for nourishment, warmth and protection. Infants suck their thumbs. There is undoubtably a primal biological reason. Nature rewards behaviors that help survival. It's pleasant and has a soothing and calming effect. Because there's shame associated with it, many patients are not willing to talk about the habit or admit to it. Depending on where the thumb is placed, different types of dental problems can develop.

          Teeth touch to cut and grind food. Placing a finger between them forces the upper teeth up and the lower teeth down. The result is that the teeth don't touch and remain open even when the mouth is closed. It's an anterior open bite. A tongue thrust can also do this or it can develop secondarily to the thumb sucking. Speech problems, such as lisps, can occur because the open bite interferes with the formation of certain sounds.

          If the thumb sucking thumb is placed behind the upper front teeth and pulled forward, this pressure draws the upper jaw and teeth forward and narrows the upper dental arch The upper teeth eventually stick forward and the patient develops buck teeth. Since the finger pressure is only on the upper jaw, eventually the upper and lower teeth don't fit together well.If the thumb, hand or arm push the lower jaw backward, this can cause underdevelopment of the lower jaw. The lower teeth may even tip backwards. Forcing the lower jaw backward can cause problems with the jaw joints ( temporomandibular joints, TMJ ).

          Thumb sucking causes chapped lips, cracked skin, calluses and fingernail infections. The severity of the dental problem depends on how often, how hard, and how long the patient's sucks and the position of the thumb. It's usually an unconscious habit and making it conscious can lead to successful treatment. Placing a bitter-tasting liquid on the thumb nail can provide a reminder not to suck. There are commercial products sold in local pharmacies. Gloves, mittens or a finger-splint can be worn to prevent the behavior Several dental appliances also serve as a reminder not to suck. Any dental appliance that prevents the thumb from going into the mouth can work. The most common are the crib and rake appliances. A bar attached to the teeth that goes across the palate can also prevent thumb placement. Unfortunately, this habit creates malocclusions that require orthodontic treatment. In severe cases, jaw surgery is needed. If you would like to schedule a free dental consultation with Atlanta Family Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, call 404-874-7428.