SOUND HABITS
Why Thumbsucking Matters?
Thumb sucking, a non-nutritive sucking habit, is a natural part of a child’s development and quite common in early childhood. As children grow, they self-eliminate these habits between the ages of 2-4 years. By the age of 5, the sucking habit is considered prolonged, impacting the growth and development of the face, mouth, and occlusion.
A recent study done in Italy by Ferrante et al. reported that thumb sucking behavior in their research was initiated to stimulate the nasopalatal receptors and receive muscular balance to release psychological and physical tension (1). It seems that finger sucking is closely related to the psycho-emotional maturity of a child. Most children discontinue this habit spontaneously by the age of 4 years when more developed self- management skills arise. (2)
Oral habits are characterized by the frequency, intensity, and duration of the habit. The frequency and the intensity are most concerning as that will have the most significant physical impact on oral function and dentition.
A Different Approach
We use our behavior and evidenced based approach to eliminate finger/thumb sucking, nail-biting, prolonged sippy, and pacifier use. Oral habits, if persist beyond certain developmental age, can pose great harm to the developing teeth, occlusion, and surrounding oral tissues. Find out what age your child should self-eliminate these oral habits in our FAQ.
We can help!
Proper diagnosis allows for targeted and effective therapeutic intervention. At Sound Mouths, we identify the root cause of multiple problems and develop a tailor-made treatment plan. At times, our treatment plans may include collaboration with other relevant medical professionals.