{"id":226,"date":"2021-06-15T16:47:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T16:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/?p=226"},"modified":"2021-07-15T17:16:20","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T17:16:20","slug":"pediatric-dentist-in-huntington-explains-whether-thumb-sucking-is-bad-for-a-childs-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/15\/pediatric-dentist-in-huntington-explains-whether-thumb-sucking-is-bad-for-a-childs-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Thumb-Sucking Bad for My Child\u2019s Future Smile?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/AdobeStock_358940312__1626297070_55452.jpg\" alt=\"a little girl sucking her thumb before seeing a pediatric dentist in Huntington\" class=\"wp-image-227\" width=\"306\" height=\"204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/AdobeStock_358940312__1626297070_55452.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/AdobeStock_358940312__1626297070_55452-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/AdobeStock_358940312__1626297070_55452-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 306px) 100vw, 306px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Does your child suck their thumb? Do you worry they\u2019ll be the only kid entering kindergarten who is still practicing this habit? While most children grow out of it around the age of 2 or 3, those who continue to engage in thumb-sucking can be at risk for possible oral health problems, one of which is a poorly aligned bite. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/pediatric-dentistry.html\">pediatric dentist in Huntington<\/a> is here to explain the potential issues your child may face if they continue to suck their thumb as they get older. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thumb-Sucking and Its Potential Dangers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For babies and younger toddlers, thumb-sucking may be a comfort technique used when they feel scared or unsure about a situation. While this is completely normal, it is certainly a habit that you\u2019ll want to break in the coming years. Why? Because whether it is a thumb, finger, or pacifier, the sucking motion a child practices can have a negative impact on their dental health. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Bite Alignment: <\/strong>Known as malocclusion, your child may experience a problem with a misaligned bite. While an underbite or crossbite is possible, overbites and open bites tend to be the most prominent. Should your child develop a problem with their teeth or jaw as a result of their thumb-sucking, it may be more difficult for them to eat, speak, and feel confident in their appearance. It may also be necessary for them to undergo orthodontic treatment later on.<\/li><li><strong>Facial Development:<\/strong> The continued practice of thumb-sucking can cause the jaw and facial structure to change over time, resulting in a dramatic shift in their teeth because of the pulling motion of the thumb and pressure from the sucking. Their teeth and jaw may not work together properly, and their facial features may appear asymmetrical. &nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Speech Impediment: <\/strong>If your child has an open bite or overbite, you may notice they are unable to form certain words and syllables, which will ultimately affect their speech. A lisp can develop that makes it harder to create various sounds and potentially lead to feelings of inadequacy, especially if they are school age.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ways to Encourage Your Child to Stop the Habit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to help your child kick this habit before it becomes a real problem, there are different techniques you can use, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Offering praise when they do not suck their thumb for a certain period of time<\/li><li>Giving your child a different toy or stuffed animal that can be used to comfort them when they experience uncertainty, fear, or anxiety<\/li><li>Helping your little one be more aware of their thumb-sucking habit, as many often do not realize they\u2019re doing it because of its \u201cnormalcy\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Helping your child break this non-nutritive habit may not be an easy task but by talking to your child\u2019s pediatric dentist in Dix Hills, you can establish a starting point that will lead to improved oral health as they grow and develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About the Author<\/strong><br>Dr. Rajanesh Gaur is a trusted dentist who enjoys caring for patients of all ages. When little ones come in for regular checkups and cleanings, he and his team deliver compassionate, caring, and kid-friendly care. He even works with parents who are concerned that their children\u2019s non-nutritive habits might result in worsening oral health conditions as they grow older. Whether it is a pacifier or thumb-sucking that is of concern, you are welcome to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/contact-us.html\">contact us<\/a> at <strong>(631) 673-8040 <\/strong>to learn which tips and techniques work best to curb these particular practices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does your child suck their thumb? Do you worry they\u2019ll be the only kid entering kindergarten who is still practicing this habit? While most children grow out of it around the age of 2 or 3, those who continue to engage in thumb-sucking can be at risk for possible oral health problems, one of which [&hellip;]<\/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-226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Pediatric Dentist in Huntington | Thumb-Sucking | Dr. Raj Gaur<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Does your child suck their thumb? A pediatric dentist in Huntington explains why this can be harmful to their oral health the older they get.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/15\/pediatric-dentist-in-huntington-explains-whether-thumb-sucking-is-bad-for-a-childs-oral-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pediatric Dentist in Huntington | Thumb-Sucking | Dr. Raj Gaur\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Does your child suck their thumb? A pediatric dentist in Huntington explains why this can be harmful to their oral health the older they get.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/15\/pediatric-dentist-in-huntington-explains-whether-thumb-sucking-is-bad-for-a-childs-oral-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Dix Hills Family Dentistry Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-06-15T16:47:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-07-15T17:16:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/AdobeStock_358940312__1626297070_55452.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"drgaur\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"drgaur\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/15\/pediatric-dentist-in-huntington-explains-whether-thumb-sucking-is-bad-for-a-childs-oral-health\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/15\/pediatric-dentist-in-huntington-explains-whether-thumb-sucking-is-bad-for-a-childs-oral-health\/\",\"name\":\"Pediatric Dentist in Huntington | Thumb-Sucking | Dr. Raj Gaur\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/15\/pediatric-dentist-in-huntington-explains-whether-thumb-sucking-is-bad-for-a-childs-oral-health\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/15\/pediatric-dentist-in-huntington-explains-whether-thumb-sucking-is-bad-for-a-childs-oral-health\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/AdobeStock_358940312__1626297070_55452.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-06-15T16:47:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-07-15T17:16:20+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dixhillsdentist.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b19bc5d5eb9b504387a3ff62e9fc4661\"},\"description\":\"Does your child suck their thumb? 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