Thumb and finger sucking is a common method of self-soothing for babies and toddlers. Babies are even seen in sonograms sucking on their fingers and sometimes their toes! Some children don\u2019t suck on their finger or thumbs at all while others may prefer a pacifier. While all of these behaviors are normal, when a child reaches between 2 to 4 years of age, they\u2019ll begin to naturally outgrow this behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Children who do not grow out of thumb sucking have a higher potential for oral health problems as they mature and grow. If these habits continue as they age, their top teeth may begin to grow in at a forward angle, which can cause misalignment and potentially lead to jaw and bone health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When do I Know if Thumb Sucking is a Problem?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your child should begin seeing our pediatric dentist in Charlotte NC as soon as their first tooth comes in or by their first birthday. Dr. Gordon-Holt is specially trained in infant and children\u2019s oral health care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Always be upfront and honest with us about the child\u2019s oral health regimen and habits such as chewing, orally exploring, sucking on their thumbs, finger, pacifiers, or other objects. If your child has any of these oral habits, Dr. Holt will make sure to keep a very close eye on your child\u2019s teeth alignment and growth patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatment for thumb sucking normally begins when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to Stop Thumb Sucking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most children stop sucking their thumb when they are old enough to understand the consequences. A long talk with your pediatric dentist in Charlotte NC and support from the parents usually can help children cut the habit fairly quickly. If more drastic measures need to be taken, Dr. Holt can provide you with more options to help eliminate this harmful dental habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still looking for a top children\u2019s dentist in Charlotte? Call Dr. Gordon-Holt today at (704) 542-2325 to schedule your visit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thumb and finger sucking is a common method of self-soothing for babies and toddlers. Babies are even seen in sonograms sucking on their fingers and sometimes their toes! Some children don\u2019t suck on their finger or thumbs at all while others may prefer a pacifier. While all of these behaviors are normal, when a child […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n\n