Thumb sucking is a habit that can be very difficult to break. This habit should be abandoned until permanent teeth begin to erupt. Even though this critical period has come, if the thumb sucking habit is not stopped, you may face irreparable problems in terms of jaw and tooth development.
Situations are frequently encountered in which the thumb sucking habit cannot be prevented despite the child's wishes and all the efforts of the family, and as a result, orthodontic treatment is required for the child. the need arises. Unfortunately, orthodontic treatment to be applied in such cases does not fall into the category of simple treatments.
Defaults in dental and skeletal structure due to thumb sucking are directly related to the severity of the habit, its duration and how old it continues. As we said above, the threshold period is when permanent teeth begin to erupt. This period is 6-7 years old for many children. It would be beneficial for a child who has not given up the habit of thumb sucking even though the milk incisors have fallen out, to be seen by a pedodontist (pediatric dentist) or orthodontist. A fixed or mobile habit-breaking device is made for the child and an attempt is made to find a definitive solution to this habit.
Which finger the child puts into his mouth while sucking is important in terms of orthodontic irregularities that may occur. In children who suck their thumbs, stenosis in the upper jaw and a condition that we call open bite, in which the upper incisors do not adequately cover the lower incisors, occur. This may be accompanied by lower jaw retardation. While local upper palate deformation, side crossbite and local open bite can be seen in those who suck only the index finger, and local open bite in the part where the finger enters the mouth, open bite and lower jaw retardation can be seen in those who suck more than one finger, even if there is no stenosis.
The best part is such a habit. is to prevent its development from the beginning. So what can we do if the baby has such an instinct? Instead of completely blocking this instinct, one can try to direct it. The biggest helpers in this regard are "fake memes". This may sound strange at first. Doesn't false breast also cause damage to the teeth? Yes, it may occur, but as with thumb sucking, it is seen in those who continue to suck even after passing the critical threshold age. The advantage of the fake breast is that you are in control. I. You can discourage this habit in a short time by taking away the pacifier from a child of a certain age and not giving it to him again. Unfortunately, there is no such easy solution for thumb suckers. Therefore, if your baby has a thumb sucking habit, I recommend that you turn him/her into a pacifier habit. If the baby does not want the pacifier and insists on thumb sucking, it may be necessary to make the pacifier attractive in some way, although this is not recommended.
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