{"id":211,"date":"2015-07-21T09:00:28","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T13:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/?p=211"},"modified":"2026-04-28T17:41:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T21:41:07","slug":"myth-or-fact-thumb-sucking-ruins-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/myth-or-fact-thumb-sucking-ruins-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Myth or Fact? Thumb Sucking Ruins Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Are you one of the many parents concerned about your child\u2019s thumb sucking habit? Sucking on the thumb (or other fingers, pacifiers, or other objects) is a very common habit; about 80 percent of infants and children do it at some point. How warranted is the concern? Is it true that thumb sucking ruins teeth?<\/p>\n

How thumb sucking ruins teeth<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two important factors influence whether thumb sucking will cause damage: age and intensity of sucking. Most dentists agree that the habit won\u2019t damage baby teeth (although it\u2019s possible that it can have a harmful effect). Most children give it up between the ages of two and four.<\/p>\n

After the permanent teeth come in, usually around the age of six, sucking causes problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth, resulting in a prominent overbite or other malocclusion. It also causes changes in the roof of the mouth that can lead to speech problems.<\/p>\n

A child who vigorously sucks their thumb is more likely to experience problems than one who simply rests his thumb in his mouth. Some aggressive thumb suckers cause problems with their baby teeth or affect the position of the permanent teeth before they come in.<\/p>\n

How you can help your child<\/strong><\/p>\n