As a baby, your child may have sucked their thumb, using the habit as a source of comfort. However, now that your child has grown into a toddler, you may wonder whether their thumb-sucking could cause issues with their growing teeth. If so, there are a couple of potential problems that prolonged thumb-sucking could have on your toddler's teeth.
1. May Shift the Jaw to Cause an Overbite or Misalignment
One potential issue that could arise when your child continues to suck their thumb after their baby teeth start growing in is that the habit could make the jaw shift. If this happens, it could cause an overbite or misalignment of the mouth and teeth.
If your child develops an overbite, the protruding upper teeth could cause issues with their ability to bite properly, depending on the severity of the overbite. This could affect their ability to eat if the overbite is severe.
When the mouth becomes misaligned, the teeth come down on one another unevenly. This could lead to erosion of the enamel on parts of the teeth, leading to more cavity.
An overbite or misalignment could also cause issues with their speech, leading to a speech impediment. While this occurs mostly in severe cases, you should still have your child's dentist examine your toddler's mouth to determine whether early corrective treatment is needed.
2. Could Creates Biting Issues from Teeth Tipping Either Inward or Outward
Another issue that thumb-sucking can cause when done after your child's teeth have come in is that it could cause the teeth to either tip inward or outward. The sucking action's effect on the growing teeth could cause them to shift inward, while the pressure of the thumb on the teeth could push them outward.
If the front teeth are no longer hitting each other when your child closes their mouth, this problem could lead to difficulty in eating. The pressure on the baby teeth could also extend to your child's hidden permanent teeth, which could also cause them to come in crooked.
If your child has started to grow their baby teeth and you are concerned about the effects thumb sucking is having on their oral health, make an appointment with a pediatric dental specialist. They can assess whether the habit is causing irreparable damage to your child's teeth as well as offer suggestions for encouraging your child to stop sucking their thumb.
If you are tired of coming down with dental problems, the problem might not be your toothpaste. Instead, it could be your habits tied to your dental care. Aggressive brushers, people who have a tendency to forget, and even people who are flossing improperly could be left with serious dental issues, which is why it really pays to focus on mastering the small things. From moving forward with a better brushing routine to doing what you can to identify and resolve ongoing decay, making your dental health a priority is instrumental in preventing pain and added budgetary strains. Check out this blog to find out more.