Thumb or Digit sucking

Thumb sucking is a normal infant behavior, however millions of children continue the habit well beyond early childhood. Unfortunately they risk significant and often preventable dental, speech, learning and emotional problems.

When to begin therapy

Researchers have discovered that a child's thought processes and perceptions of the world are very different depending on their age and state of emotional and intellectural development. The decision to eliminate a sucking habit depends when the child is able to:

• Understand cause-and-effect
• Comprehend concepts of time
• Can do something out of a sense of pride
• Discriminate between right and wrong
• Practice some degree of self-control and self-denial

Early intervention is important to prevent and minimize the problems associated with thumb sucking.  The longer the behavior persists, the more difficult it will be to  eliminate the sucking activity because the strength of the emotional dependecy increases with time. Treatment to eliminate the habit can begin soon after the child reaches five and prior to eruption of permanent teeth.