Thumb sucking is the placement of the thumb at various depths into the mouth. It is normal for a child to put his thumb into his mouth up to 3 years of age. Thumb sucking can be divided into psychological and habitual.
- The psychological habit may have a deep-rooted emotional factor involved.
- In the case of habituation, the child may perform acts of thumb sucking due to a habit.
Causative Factors
- Parent's occupation: Mothers from poor socioeconomic backgrounds are unable to provide infants with sufficient breast milk. So, the child puts his thumb in the mouth.
- The number of siblings: As the number of siblings increase, the attention meted out by parents to the child gets divided. The child may neglect his feelings of insecurity by putting the thumb in his mouth.
- Order of birth of the child: Later in the order, the child is born, greater the chance of having a thumb sucking habit.
- Stress: If a child is stressed, then he tends to put his thumb in the mouth.
How to Prevent Thumb Sucking Habit?
Try to involve your child in various activities. Spend quality time with your child so that he or she does not feel insecure. Also, you can use a physiological nipple in the bottle.
Treatment
1. Reminder therapy
A physical barrier like band, gloves, etc., are used to remind the child to take the thumb out. You should also tell the child that it is not a punishment.
2. Extraoral approach
It employs bitter-flavored preparations that are applied to fingers or thumbs. It is available with the dentist.
3. Ace bandage approach
This program involves the use of an elastic bandage wrapped across the elbow at night. Pressure exerted by the bandage removes the digit from the mouth as child tires and falls asleep.
4. Use of long sleeve nightdress
The long sleeves of the dress interfere with the contact of thumb and mouth.
5. Intraoral appliances
It includes various appliances that have spurs or rakes so that the insertion of the thumb into the mouth makes the child uncomfortable. The appliance has to be worn for at least four months and it can be of fixed or removable types.
