SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – The sucking reflex is natural for infants, and often begins in the womb.
As your child grows, they may be sucking their thumbs for a purpose. It can make them feel secure, happy or they could be soothing themselves to sleep.

Once the permanent teeth begin to erupt, thumbsucking can become an issue. It could interfere with the proper growth of their mouth, and teeth alignment. Changes to the roof of the mouth could also occur, depending on the intensity of your child’s thumbsucking.

For instance, if your child sleeps with their thumb resting in their mouth, they are less likely to have severe issues than children who do so aggressively.
“If your child’s thumbsucking habit is showing a noticeable change in their teeth, consult an orthodontist,” says braces specialist. “The earlier you intervene, the better.”
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