Did you know that babies develop the habit of sucking their thumbs before they are even born, while in their mother's womb? Although this habit is quite natural, health professionals generally agree that it should not last beyond the age of 3. Among the consequences associated with thumb sucking in a young person, we find in particular the developmental disorders of the jaws and teeth. Your LaSalle dentist addresses this issue in the following article.
Effects on deglutition
Deglutition is the action of swallowing saliva or food that is chewed when having a meal or snack.
During normal swallowing in adults, the tip of the tongue comes to rest in the palate. The jaws are then closed, that is to say that the upper teeth touch those of the bottom, and the lips also remain closed, but without exaggerated contraction. This creates a powerful wave that allows saliva and food to be swallowed, projecting them towards the pharynx.
However, when thumb sucking persists in a child, the mouth, tongue and structures responsible for swallowing remain accustomed to the necessities of sucking (mother's breast, bottle, pacifier, thumb). This delays the acquisition of normal swallowing and infant swallowing persists. During infant swallowing, we notice that:
- The tongue remains flat throughout the mouth and is projected forward;
- The tip of the tongue rests against the front teeth, rather than at the level of the palate;
- The mouth remains ajar;
- The lips are strongly contracted;
- The chewing muscles are not solicited.
The combination of these effects makes swallowing much more difficult and requires more effort for the child, which can go so far as to hinder him when feeding.
Thumb sucking: the effects on the development of jaws and teeth
The delay in the acquisition of adult deglutition means that the mouth muscles, tongue and lips are not normally solicited. In addition, when sucking the thumb, the latter exerts considerable pressure on the teeth and dental arches. There is then a real risk of imbalances in the jaw structures. This can cause different malocclusion problems (relationship between the upper jaw and the lower jaw):
- The upper teeth can be projected forward, which can lead to overbite, meaning that ;
- The upper incisors can meet those at the bottom incorrectly and cause a gap. It may then be more difficult to cut the food during chewing;
- Teeth can erupt in a disorderly manner and cause several types of alignment problems: cross-articulated, overlaps, etc.;
- The lower lip can be positioned between the upper teeth and the lower teeth (rabbit teeth effect) when the mouth is in the closed position.
Consult Dr Eric Chang for personalized advice
Thumb sucking is a habit that normally goes away between the ages of 1 and 3 in a toddler. If it persists, it is important to adopt strategies to encourage the child to get rid of it. This can prevent problems with jaw development and occlusion, which may require orthodontic treatments when the child is older, in adolescence or even as an adult if unchecked.
In this sense, Dr. Eric Chang, who focuses his practice of general dentistry for children, knows how to guide parents who are concerned about thumb sucking in their child. Personalized strategies adapted to the reality of each family can be suggested, while Dr. Chang and his team monitor the oral development of the child, to promote the health of his smile and his general health.
Approved by Dre Charouk
Dr. Joumana Charouk, D.M.D, is proud to offer her patients exceptional care that combines experience, efficiency and good humor.
Dre Joumana Charouk, D.M.D