Is Thumb Sucking Bad for Children's Teeth?

Infants come with a built in sucking reflex. Without it, trying to bottle or breast feed them would be extremely difficult! That's why it is completely natural for infants to suck on their thumb. 

Many parents find  thumb sucking preferable over giving their infant a pacifier because it helps soothe their babies and promotes relaxation. Although thumb sucking can be beneficial for soothing an infant, it can also create oral health problems later in life.

How Can Thumb Sucking Affect Teeth?

If children continue sucking their thumb during and after permanent teeth come in, it may cause problems with the growth and alignment of teeth as well as possibly cause changes in the roof of their mouth. 

The degree of sucking can determine whether the child may experience dental problems or not. For example, if a child passively rests the thumb in their mouth, they are less likely to develop problems that children who vigorously suck on their thumb. Children who are aggressive thumbsuckers may also develop problems with the growth of their primary teeth. 

Problems that may arise from thumb sucking include:

• Misplaced teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Problems swallowing properly
• Speech problems
• Protrusion and displacement of front teeth

How to Help a Child Break the Habit

Children typically stop sucking their thumb by the age of 4 or when their permanent teeth begin to erupt. One of the most important things you can do to encourage your child to stop sucking their thumb is to offer praise for not sucking. 

Children sometimes suck their thumb when they are feeling insecure or if they need comfort, so finding the cause of their anxiety may provide comfort and encourage them to break their thumb sucking habit. Schedule an appointment with your child's pediatric dentist for suggestions on how to encourage your child to stop sucking his or her thumb.

Contact Kingsland Dental Group to schedule an oral health examination to ensure your children's teeth are strong and healthy or to learn more information about how to help your child stop sucking their thumb. 

Smart Tooth-Friendly Snacks Kids Will Love

Now that school is back in session, moms and dads everywhere are packing lunch boxes for their kids. When thinking about snacks and lunches to put in that brown paper bag, think about packing items that are not only going to be nutritious, but also good for your teeth. An important part of taking care of kids’ oral health is making sure they eat nutritious foods that help to strengthen teeth and avoid foods that harm tooth enamel. Providing healthy snacks, as your dentist recommends, is not difficult, but it does require some forethought to ensure that you have the right ingredients on hand. Here are a few examples of tooth-friendly snack choices.

Peanut Butter Apples

For an easy and healthy snack, slice an apple and add a dab of peanut butter for a delicious combination of flavors. Again, many brands of peanut butter have added sugar that can hurt tooth enamel. Read the labels and only choose brands that contain peanuts and oil to avoid the extra sugar.
 

Yogurt with Fresh Fruit

Low-fat yogurt can be a healthy way to provide calcium for teeth, but read the ingredient lists on the packages and you will find that many yogurts contain added sugar that is unhealthy for children’s teeth. Instead, buy plain yogurt and add your own cut-up strawberries, peaches or blueberries for a bit of natural sweetness.

Hummus on Pita Triangles

Cut pita wraps into bite-sized triangles and dab on a bit of hummus for a healthy, non-sugary snack that adds nutrition without empty calories.

Plain Popcorn

Plain popcorn provides the “crunch” that kids love for snacking, but has no additional oils or sugar. You should avoid microwave popcorn, though, as it contains chemicals that, when heated, can lead to lung disease. A hot-air popcorn machine is a better choice.

Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds

Shelled pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds make a convenient and healthy snack that contains no sugar that can injure children’s teeth. Choose the unsalted or low-salt varieties to avoid too much sodium.

Low-Fat Cheese Bites

Cheese is an excellent snack food, as it provides calcium to build strong bones and teeth. Low-fat varieties are the healthiest choice. Cut an assortment of cheeses into bite-sized bits for easy snacking while doing homework or watching TV.

Talk to the dentists at Kingsland Dental Group for other ideas on tooth-friendly snack choices that promote oral health. 

Avoid Sports-Related Dental Injuries by Wearing a Mouthguard

Now that football season is rolling around, people of all ages will pick up the old pig skin, thinking they can replicate the incredible feats of athleticism they see on their TVs. The weather is cooling down and many of us will pick up basketballs, footballs, baseball bats and so on for some exercise. 

Unfortunately, games of pickup football and other sports often lead to some nasty injuries, many of which involve the teeth, lips, tongue and other parts of the mouth.

Sports Put Your Oral Health at Risk

If you are the parent of a student or if you are still active enough to play sports yourself, it is imperative that you have a mouthguard on hand. Wearing a mouthguard can mean the difference between extensive surgery with the dentist and the preservation of perfect oral health. 

About a half a century ago, one in two high school football injuries were to the mouth or other parts of the face. Mouthguards have reduced this rate to a mere two percent. The same is true in other sports like basketball, boxing, hockey, lacrosse and so on. 

The results of a nine-year study that concluded in 2007 at the University of Southern California show that basketball players have the highest rate of dental traumatic injuries of all college sports. Share this information with your children so they know just how tough basketball can be on their teeth. 

Avoid a Trip to the Dentist With a Mouthguard

Do not let your kids go with the flow and play outdoor contact sports without a mouthguard. Their friends might not wear mouthguards, but that should not mean that your kids' teeth go unprotected. 

Let your kids use stock mouthguards like the ones available in school. Sometimes, these fit poorly and do not protect as comprehensively as other types of mouthguards. There is also a boil and bite style of mouthguard that provides a better fit and spreads out force distribution. 

Or, you can opt for a custom fabricated mouthguard for the young athlete in your life. It provides considerable protection, longevity and comfort. Don't be afraid to shell out for one of these means of protection. A well-protected mouth is much cheaper than a bloody mouth that requires extensive surgery.