Is it bad for little children to suck their thumbs?

mibmob

It can actually deform the bones. Apr 10 02, 11:57 AM

Jeeves

Knowing where children's hands get to, I would not advise any part of them to be put into their mouths without a thorough wash. Apr 10 02, 12:01 PM

Barrow boy

My older son used to suck his thumb and, in line with the dentist's warnings, he developed sticky-out incisors. So then he had to have braces in his teens. And Jeeves, we wouldn't have immune systems if we weren't unhygeinic! Apr 10 02, 1:04 PM

FunBobby

Must be an 'old wives tale' but my Grandma used to say 'a peck of dirt never hurt anybody' Anyhow, I sucked my thumb, had a dummy(can't remember the U.S word for that) and I'm sure ate 'a peck of dirt' . My teeth are very straight and white and I'm healthy. Kids grow out of thumb sucking eventually in my experience!! Apr 10 02, 5:54 PM

finlady

Our son sucked his thumb in the delivery room. I asked the dentist once how to get him to stop. He said if you just ignore it he will stop on his own, but make a big thing about it and it will be more difficult for him to quit. At 17 months old he just stopped.. HIs teeth are perfect. Apr 11 02, 10:11 AM

McGruff

According to the American Dental Association, thumb sucking does not cause permanent problems with the teeth or jaw line unless it is continued beyond 4 to 5 years of age. As it turns out, somewhere between 85% and 99% of children have finished thumb sucking spontaneously before this period. http://www.drgreene.com/21_856.html This site also has some good tips to help stop a child from thumb sucking. Apr 11 02, 9:06 PM

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