When Should My Child Stop Sucking Their Thumb?

Thumb sucking is, by anyone’s standards, normal childhood behavior. This is true even though the theories and the research behind it may not always be as definitive as a parent wants them to be. At Luce Tooth Pediatric Dental, our staff recommends eliminating the habit by the time the child reaches the age of four. We’ll tell you more about the general principles of pediatric care and why it’s important to keep tabs on activities like thumb-sucking.

Dental Care for Life

Dental care should ideally start as soon as possible, which is why kids are encouraged to visit a dentist at least twice a year (same as adults). In a perfect world, a pediatric dentist in Seminole, FL would be a constant partner in a parent’s life from the first sign of a tooth breaking through the gums.

This is because how a child’s teeth are shaped comes down to a wide variety of factors, including how the child eats and what kinds of habits they pick up. Thumb sucking may seem harmless, but it can have negative effects on the alignment of their teeth. It can also lead to more expensive treatments down the road, such as traditional braces or invisible aligners. Finally, because thumb sucking is usually a means of self-soothing, working with a child can also give him more practical ways to deal with stress as they get older.

Pediatric Dentists in Seminole, FL

The right dentist in Seminole, FL will know how to work with their patients to get the best possible results. If you want to talk to someone who can give you real advice in addition to standard exams and treatments, Luce Tooth Pediatric Dental is a practice that caters to the oral health and well-being of children. To learn more about how to give your child their best chance at having a healthy set of teeth, contact us today.