Thumb sucking habits: What should I do?

Thumb sucking is a common habit in young children and is often times associated with hunger, fatigue, stress, sleep, teething, and shyness. The intensity of the thumb habit and frequency of sucking as well as the pattern of jaw growth determines whether dental problems develop. Thumb habits after the age of three can result in reshaping of the jawbone (narrow upper jaw), flaring of the upper front teeth, poor tongue placement, speech issues, overbite and openbite, and airway issues.
It is important to stop the thumb habit BEFORE the permanent teeth erupt. Once the permanent first molars erupt (usually age 6), there can be changes to the direction of the growth of the jaws. If your child cannot stop by age 4, I recommend a few things. First, talk to them about the reasons for stopping the habit and encourage them when they do not suck their thumb. Set up an incentive system to reward their progress. At bedtime try taping the thumbs, duck taping a sock on their hand, or nail polish designed for this purpose.
If the thumb habit is still present at age 6, there may be some orthodontic issues developing so I recommend a consultation to find the most appropriate method for addressing the problem and reversing the dental effects.

Why are children getting braces earlier?

The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that all children receive an orthodontic screening by age 7. The permanent teeth generally begin to come in at age 6 or 7. It is at this point that orthodontic problems become apparent. Because the bones are still growing, it is an ideal time to evaluate a child and determine a long-term treatment plan to achieve the optimal result.
Orthodontic treatment in young children is known as interceptive or Phase 1 Orthodontics. At this age, the teeth are still developing and the jaw is growing making certain conditions easier to address. Before the permanent teeth come in, it may be possible to guide their eruption into better positions. For instance, a few decades ago, the solution to crowding was to extract permanent teeth. Today, we take advantage of the jaw growth potential and use a palatal expander to create the necessary room which reduces the need for extractions. Increasing the amount of bone and gum tissue also leads to a decreased incidence of gingival recession as an adult. In general, children who are candidates for early treatment have the opportunity to receive an improved long-term result and less invasive treatment during the full braces stage (Phase 2).