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Baby’s first milk teeth appear one after the other … Soon, her whole mouth will end up with magnificent teeth. But the fact that your child continues to suck his thumb or have the pacifier between his teeth worries you … Can these habits have a bad effect on his dental health? We answer all your questions in the company of Cléa Lugardon, dental surgeon, and Jona Andersen, pedodontist.
At what age does a baby start to suck their thumb?
Why does baby suck his thumb, and why does he need a pacifier? It is a natural reflex for infants: “Sucking in toddlers is a physiological reflex. This is a practice that can already be seen in the fetus, in utero. We can sometimes see it on ultrasound scans! This reflex is similar to breastfeeding, and when the mother cannot or does not want to breastfeed, the pacifier or the thumb will serve as a substitute. Sucking gives children a feeling of well-being and also helps them to apprehend the pain ”, summarizes Jona Andersen. If it is undeniable that the pacifier and thumb are a source of soothing for the infant, at what age should these practices be stopped? “As a general rule, it is recommended that parents encourage the child to stop the thumb and the pacifier between 3 and 4 years old. Beyond that, the need is no longer physiological, ”says Cléa Lugardon.
What consequences do the pacifier and thumb sucking have on the teeth?
If your child continues to suck their thumb or use their pacifier after they are four years old, it is best to see a dentist. These bad habits can indeed have long-term negative consequences on their oral health such as deformations : “When the child sucks the thumb or the pacifier, he will maintain what is called his infantile swallowing. Indeed, when the thumb or the pacifier are in his mouth, they will exert pressure on the tongue and keep it at the bottom of the jaw while the latter is supposed to go up. If he persists in his habits, he will therefore keep the baby’s swallowing, which will prevent him from ingesting larger foods. This swallowing is also characterized by maintaining breathing through the mouth, but also by the fact that his tongue will be visible when he tries to express himself, ”warns Jona Andersen. Baby’s teeth will also be very affected by the persistence of thumb sucking and the pacifier: “We will see the appearance of malocclusions between the teeth. It happens, for example, that the teeth are more forward than the lower teeth. These forward teeth will cause difficulties for the child to chew, ”reveals Cléa Lugardon. From asymmetries may also appear, or even congestion in the dentition. All these deformations could have psychological consequences on the child, who risks attracting mockery when entering school.
Of course, these deformations can make parents shudder, but it is still possible to treat them after their appearance: “It is rather easy to cure the child of these problems. First, of course, the child will have to be weaned. Then, you will have to go through a specialized dentist in functional rehabilitation. This will make the child perform speech therapy exercises, to gradually reduce his dental problems. The child may also be asked to wear silicone gutters, which will allow him to reposition his tongue correctly in his mouth. What is rather practical is that before the child turns 6, the bones of his mouth are malleable, which makes it easier to put his palate and the positioning of the tongue back in place ”, explains the Dr Jona Andersen.
What to replace the pacifier with?
If the so-called classic pacifiers are likely to impact the teeth of your child, know that today there is a whole range of orthodontic pacifiers. “These pacifiers are made of flexible silicone, with a very thin neck. There are several recognized brands, ”explains Jona Andersen.
Among the most famous brands of orthodontic pacifiers, there is in particular the brand CuraProx or even Machouyou, which allow the child to avoid damage to his teeth as much as possible.
How do I get my baby to stop sucking his thumb?
As we have seen, it is recommended that your child stop pacifier or thumb sucking after 4 years. On paper, it sounds simple, but many toddlers can be resistant to change, which can be a source of crying and tears. So how do you stop thumb and pacifier sucking? “Regarding the use of the pacifier, I recommend weaning it gradually, a bit like we do for smokers,” advises Cléa Lugardon. Pedagogy and patience are the keys to a successful weaning. You can also be imaginative: “For example, we can have Santa Claus come a second time in the year. The child writes a letter to him, and in the evening, Santa Claus will come and take all the pacifiers and leave him a nice present when he leaves, ”says Dr Jona Andersen.
As for thumb sucking, it can be more complicated because your child can continue when your back is turned. As for the pacifier, you will have to show great pedagogy. You have to explain with the best words and kindly that sucking his thumb is no longer his age – he’s grown up now !, and that in addition it risks damaging his teeth, which are so pretty. It will be counterproductive to scold him, because he risks living it badly. If he is really hostile to the idea of stopping sucking his thumb, do not hesitate to get help: “If the habit persists, do not hesitate to come and consult us. We know how to find the right words to stop sucking his thumb, ”suggests Jona Andersen.