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SYMPTOMS
The upper and lower front teeth
may not approximate with each
other.
The upper front teeth may flare
out.
Displacement of the childs
permanent teeth due to the uneven
forces placed on the teeth by the
thumb.

.
Protruding and uneven teeth
change the facial appearance
leading to inferiority complex in
the young mind.
Reddened thumb and
Exceptionally clean thumb.

DIAGNOSIS
Any child above the age of 4 with
protruding anterior teeth may be
affected by thumb sucking. A
detailed history about the habit is
very helpful. The frequency and
duration of this habit can help in
evaluating the extent of the
habit.
The thumb used by the child
normally appears to be very clean
compared to the other finger.

DENTAL PROBLEMS
Prolonged
thumb-sucking
may
cause
theteethto
become
improperly aligned this can cause
Malocclusion or push theteeth
outward. This usually corrects itself
when the child stops thumbsucking. But the longer thumbsucking continues, the more likely it
is thatorthodontic treatmentwill be
needed.

MALOCCLUSION SYMPTOMS

Improper alignment of the

teeth
Alteration in the appearance
of the face
Discomfort when chewing or
biting
Speech problems
Breathing through the mouth
rather than the nose

Speech problems caused

by thumb-sucking can include
not being able to say Ts
andDs, lisping, and thrusting
out thetonguewhen talking.

TREATMENT

Extra oral method:

Painting the childs thumb or
finger with an unpleasant
tasting substance.
Tapping the thumb with
plaster so as to prevent
thumb sucking.

TREATMENT CONTD.
Intra oral methods:
This is done by fabricating
appliances,
which are then
fitted into the mouth of the
child by the dentist.
They are normally viewed as
punishment devices by the
child there by sometime
producing severe emotional

TREATMENT CONTD.

Keep the child's hands occupied with a toy, puzzle

or other activity.
Carefully remove your child's thumb from his or
her mouth during sleep.
Give the example of his friends that have
managed to stop thumbsucking.

TREATMENT CONTD.

Talk about the 'bad' germs that are

on our hands and how the child
puts them in his or her mouth
while thumb sucking.
Avoid punishing or shaming the
child.
Reward the child for not thumb
sucking for a progressively
increasing time period.

TREATMENT CONTD.
Thumb sucking guard
A thumb guard is a device with a plastic cover
of the thumb that is attached to a child's wrist.
The thumb sucking guard interrupts the
process by breaking the vacuum created by
sucking, thus removing the child's pleasure.
Treatment with thumb guards usually lasts four
weeks and helps children to stop thumb
sucking successfully.