{"id":266,"date":"2023-09-13T22:46:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T22:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pedodentalspecialists.com\/blog\/?p=266"},"modified":"2026-02-23T20:23:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T20:23:42","slug":"thumb-sucking-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pedodentalspecialists.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/13\/thumb-sucking-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Thumb-Sucking Bad for My Child\u2019s Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Small children across the world suck on their thumbs to calm their anxieties. This behavior is beneficial as it can be an early step in your child’s learning to regulate their own emotions. While there is nothing wrong with it at earlier ages, after a certain point, it can cause significant dental health issues. Here\u2019s some information from your dentist<\/a> about what harm thumb-sucking can do if it continues after the toddler stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Can Thumb-Sucking Hurt My Child\u2019s Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Excessive thumb-sucking can also alter the way a child\u2019s face and jaw develop. As the pressure in the mouth constantly shifts during the sucking motion the teeth can be pulled out of alignment. If your child is still sucking their thumb at the age of four, the habit can cause them to develop a malocclusion, or a misaligned bite. A few examples of these include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n