Thumb-Sucking

Symptoms

A thumb-sucking child usually places the thumb in the mouth above the tongue, pressing forward against the upper front teeth or gums and backward against the lower front teeth or gums. A child may develop a callus on the thumb if he or she sucks often and very hard.

• Some children suck their fingers instead of their thumbs. They may have found their fingers more easily than their thumbs when they first started sucking.
• Some children finger a piece of cloth, pull on their ears, or twist their hair while sucking.

Thumb-sucking in children younger than 4 is not usually a problem behavior. Children who suck their thumbs frequently or with great intensity after the age of 4 or 5 may develop:

• Emotional difficulties. Some preschoolers who suck their thumbs may feel ashamed if they are teased by other children. Parents can cause low self-esteem by ridiculing or punishing their child for this behavior.
• Dental problems. Thumb-sucking can cause many serious future dental problems, such as improperly aligned teeth (malocclusion). Malocclusion usually corrects itself when the child stops thumb-sucking. However, the longer thumb-sucking continues, the more likely it is that orthodontic treatment will be needed to correct any resulting dental problems.
• Speech problems. The most common speech problems that develop because of thumb-sucking include mispronouncing Ts and Ds, lisping, and thrusting out the tongue when talking.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: October 2, 2006
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.