Digit Sucking

Digit sucking is a habit that occurs in infants. Children usually give up digit sucking by the age of three. If the child continues the habit past the age of three years old, they may start to cause permanent changes to their jaw development. This results from the frequency, duration, intensity, and position of the digit in the child’s mouth. This can also affect the position of the upper and lower jaw and can also affect speech.

Suggestions to break the habit:

• Wait till the time is right (low stress).
• Motivate your child (show examples of what could happen to their teeth and fingers/thumbs).
• Use a reward system (small incentives will encourage your child to stick with it).
• More options can be discussed at your child’s dental visit.