Thumb Sucking - Sarasota, FL

Hi -

My friends' two children both sucked their thumbs, and she ended up getting a dental device put on them that makes it hard to thumb suck (or makes the sensation different). From what I understand, you can't see it, and it's not at all painful or anything. It really helped them (both the kids were on board with doing this).

I would guess an orthodontist or a family dentist could tell you more about it.

Good luck!

Hi-
Although I don't have any recommendations on how to encourage him to quit the thumb sucking, other than what you already mentioned, I can comment on the fact that you believe he is too young to be loosing his teeth already.

It is a misconception that he is too young. The average age that they begin to lose teeth is 6, but it all depends on when you & his father got/lost your teeth. It also does not have to do with thumb sucking. Teeth get loose from the root up to the gumline as the root slowly resorbes due to the pressure from the permanent teeth pushing against them. While thumb sucking can cause changes to the palate & to the position of the teeth, it does not cause teeth to be exfoliated prematurely. Also, it won't be years before his new teeth come in...don't worry, he's just ahead of the average curve in this developmental milestone!

By the way, I guess I should say that I am a Registered Dental Hygienist for 8 yrs, with a 2 yr concentration in Pediatrics.

Good luck!

Hi T.....just an FYI....some kids do lose teeth at 5 and get their permanent teeth right away...did he get his teeth early? No need to stress about that....some kids just suck their thumbs...I don't think it's causing him to lose teeth early. I am eager to hear more suggestions because my 5 y/o daughter has been chewing her cuticles NON-STOP for 3 months and we can't stand it. She has gotten sick several times lately and I keep reminding her she's eating germs by doing that...it's become habit...and I hope someone has some VERY good suggestions!!! Best of luck!!!

Hi im M. S i have 3 kids ....10,7,2 .... My little girl she 2 now but when she was 18month old she had a surgery to fix her roof of her mouth ... it was hard to get her to stop sucking her tumb but they gave me this thing that keep the child arm stright out so they want put thing in there mouth and they let me keep them and they work ... i think you can make them they not hard to make ... i no this might not help you but ... i think it would not hurt to make a couple of them so it will help your child .... hope it help ....

For my kids we let them pick out a cute (lightweight) pair of gloves(think spiderman, cars, etc). Around the house they would wear a glove on the hand that they sucked the thumb on. Soon, they just had to wear it at night. You said he wants to do it so let him feel like he is in control of it.

K.

Hi T., I just turned 60, I have a son, daughter and 4 wonderful grandchildren. My 3 almost 4grandaughter sucks her thumb, as did her mother,my daughter . I tried everything to get my daughter to stop, she is 35 and some things never change. I bought the stuff you paint their thumbs with. At first she complained, a bit, then she said it was not bad, and went on putting that thumb, with caliouss of course in her mouth. Her brother who was 5 years older heard me and dad talking about the stuff and he told us she dumped out the yucky stuff and put water in it , that is why she did not mind. They just get smarter all the time. This too shall pass. Just love and enjoy them they grow up soooo fast, God Bless , M.

Hi T.,
I don't really have any advise on the thumb sucking other than I know a friend who used the bad tasting stuff you paint on, she said they have it at Walgreens and CVS. She said it did work. Fortunately, my kids were blanket holders instead of thumb suckers, but I do want to let you know that when my son was 5, he lost 5 teeth and was right in line with others in his class. In fact, he lost his first two teeth only 2-3 months after turning 5 (and he was a preemie) there were only a couple of kids that had not lost any during kindergarten and some of the 6 year olds had lost 8. I wouldn't be at all alarmed by the wiggly teeth especially at 5 1/2. My son will be 7 soon and has lost 7 teeth and has two more loose ones. My son's dentist said some loose teeth as early as 4 and that it just depends on the kid. Good luck.
A.

For what it's worth. I'm 65 years old now and was a thumb sucker. My mother got that stuff that painted on the nails. It was awful. It would make me cry, I would rub my eyes, it would get in my eyes and burn like crazy. Maybe it's different now. Maybe if you could hold and cuddle your child whenever he feels like sucking his thumb.

By the way, my teeth were perfect and beautiful.

I'm so thankful mine never took a pacifer OR his fingers. But that leads to other issues when you have kid with anxiety issues. I've heard of substituting the thumb/finger sucking for an object, such as a blanket or pillow. But of course, then you have another battle as they age, right? You could try an object, since it is about teaching them an alternative self-soothing technique. I found some travel size fleece pillows on Ebay. Since most are handmade, you can ask a seller if they'll make one in your child's favorite color or a favorite cartoon character. Then, if he needs to soothe, he goes in his room and maybe rubs the soft fabric or squeezes it, etc. His friends won't see it to make fun of him, and when he's older and has a sleepover, then you could "put it away" for that night.

Of course, objects do get nasty, so maybe buy two and put the other away. We just had to get rid of my son's soother pillow after his 8 year attachment to it. He decided to sneak out of the house with a flashlight and go through the garbage can in the middle of the night (that's what I mean by the next battle, of course.) It took three attempts for us to toss the darn thing without his knowledge. He has OCD so becomes obsessed/overly attached to things and routines. Thankfully, out of site, out of mind with him, since he hasn't seemed to notice it's absence over the past two weeks. But he does have two other soother pillows he's working on destroying by chewing the corners and twisting the fabric to keep him occupied these days. He really only does this at night now or when he's bored, so I guess it's progress of a sort.

Here's the plan our dental hygenist friend gave us for our son. We used this when he was 4 1/2. Our son was a night time thumb sucker. This plan worked wonders!

Eliminating Thumb Sucking Habit

1. Child must understand that thumb sucking is a damaging habit if it continues and child must want to quit. “Thumb sucking is something babies do...and eventually out grow…like wearing diapers.” Nothing negative should be said about thumb sucking, no belittling, etc. Child understands and reasons well…and responds to positive motivation. This is the key to success.
2. It will take approximately 10 days to make a change and 21 days to make a habit. However, it is recommended using 30 days to achieve the goal. Parent must be prepared to make a month long commitment.
3. It is important that the child understands that this is a very difficult habit to break by himself. Since it happens while he is sleeping, he needs help and reminders not to suck his thumb. Ask if child wants help and reminders…child has to buy into the program!
4. Success depends upon the child wanting to change and accepting help to make the change occur. This technique is for a very smart and special child who wants to stop the “baby” habit of thumb sucking. For nightly sucking habit, the following technique has had great success.

• Prepare necessary supplies – a “special” box and a “special” calendar for this occasion. The calendar will be used to chart progress. Keep the calendar on display in the child’s bedroom. Supplies in the box include: waterproof first aid tape, a narrow ace bandage, diaper pins, stickers for the calendar. Or you can tape a glove instead of ace bandage.
• Use the special box to keep supplies in and have a special place for this box. (i.e. a note card box he decorates kept in a drawer). Talk it up; make the process a fun POSITIVE process…a transition to BIG BOY status!
• Nightly, place 2 strips of waterproof first aid tape on the sucking thumb. One strip above the joint and one strip below the joint. Next, wrap the thumb and hand to the wrist with an ace bandage. Use a diaper pin to secure the bandage. Do NOT place tape or wrap tightly. (We used a glove instead of the ace bandage and used first aid tape to tape the glove to his wrist)
• Tuck the child into bed. Have the child repeat 10 times “I will not suck my thumb…I’m a big boy” or something to that effect. This is the message that you are sending to the subconscious.
• In the morning, make a big deal out of the successful night! Remove the bandages, return the ace bandage and diaper pin to the special box. Let the child select and place the sticker on the calendar. BE POSITIVE!
• Set goals and give rewards. The rewards can be decided upon in advance, so that the child is aware of the benefits. Or, the rewards can be a surprise. Depends upon the child.
Daily…the sticker on the calendar. Weekly…a little reward…gift, toy, book, etc. At the end of the month…BIG REWARD!

Hi
I understand about the sensory processing problem since both my twin daughters have it. it is a difficult issue to stop something that is self regulating. there is a nail polish that you can put on the nail. i want to say it is called thumbz. i am not sure though. i think it had yellow packaging. i once saw it at walgreens. hope this helps. good luck!

Hi T.,

I too have a son who is six and it trying hard to stop sucking his thumb. He did actually stop at one point but then with the birth of his little sister I think that is what has made him start doing it again - only during times when he is watching T.V. or when he goes to bed...it is very limited at this point. We have been using THUM - it is a liquid that you "paint" over the thumb and it taste pretty bad (and smells) so he doesn't want to leave the thumb in his mouth. It did work before and we are now using it again - it is seems to be doing the job again. I purchased it at Target - you will need to ask the pharmacist - they don't keep it out on the aisle but you don't need a prescription to buy. It is great that he wants to stop = that is key!!! Good Luck:)

Wow! This is the same issue I am starting to deal with. I have a 4 1/2 yr old with sensory issues and he too uses his thumb for self regulation. However, I know that as he begins to turn five things will begin to change socially and medically and I have been concerned with trying to figure out how to get him to stop. But then I am conflicted with the whole sensory need to sooth himself. UGH! Anyway, my husband sucked his thumb until he was about 8. No nail stuff worked, Tabasco didn't work, the only thing that worked was peer pressure. He finally decided he was done and wrapped his hand up in bandages for a week and that did the trick. Much like the sock method :). I have started talking to my son about stopping. Here is what I am telling him. One his friends will start teasing him soon about it and we are trying to save him from embarrassment. Two, his doctor/dentist will want him to stop when he turns 5 for medical reasons. I told him if he doesn't try to stop the dentist will probably put a device in the top of his mouth that will cut his thumb when he sucks it.I know kids that have had this done, it seems a bit extreme but it works and it saves their teeth. While this sounds mean to scare him, this is working. I tell him I don't want that for him and he doesn't seem to want it either. So I gently remind him to stop sucking his thumb through out the day. He really doesn't want to stop and I feel badly for him. I am hoping that by starting a little early that a slower process will be more helpful than getting in a panic mode when it starts affecting his teeth. He has an overbite already, which doesn't bother me, I know braces can fix that later in life. Good luck and keep me posted on what happens. I would love to know what works for you and your son!

Hi!! I bought something at my daughter's dentist office that you "paint " onto the nails and around the finger for her thumb sucking problem :) . Her dentist used on her daughther and recomends this product. I haven't used on her BUT I will putting on her soon.. I did use it on myself to stop biting my nails, which I been doing for 30 years... and I worked , I don't do it anymore at all..you put it at night for 10days!!
The name is MAVALA STOP(from mavala), you can buy online..
Good Luck!

The nail stuff can be found at any store like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, etc. It is on the fingernail polish isle. Honestly though, my son sucked his thumb from 3 months old until about age 7 (at that later point it was involuntary at night while he slept) and the only thing that worked for him was a sock over his hand. It became a part of his bedtime routine to place the sock on his hand as he was tucked into bed. It took about a week or two for the habit to fully break and then he was able to sleep without the sock. Good luck!

I believe that nail stuff is called Nailbiter and if you can't find it at the drug store, you can order it on line. I would try that and reward him with small things when he doesn't suck his thumb. Maybe you could go slowly and reward him hour by hour in the beginning. Even a sticker could work. My uncle offered me $5 to quit and that worked for me. It was much tougher for my brother who was older. If he wants help giving it up, it will come in time. Remind him to be patient. Best of luck.