How to stop the thumb sucking?

[Mahonri]

It can really mess up the growth of a mouth if she continues to suck it.

She needs to stop now.

I know it will sound cruel, but I have a lab that makes an appliance that we glue to the back baby teeth. Right where the thumb would normally go we place 4 or 5 sharply pointed wires that point down and forward. They can still eat (CAREFULLY), but everytime they go to put their thumb in their mouth it either hurts or it's VERY uncomfortable.

I've probably placed 20 of them over the last 23 years... none in the last 6 or 7 years.... don't see as many young kids as I used to.

I had to leave one in for 3 months but virtually all of them stopped withing 3 months time.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

When I was younger, they put that thing in my mouth. I ripped it out after a week or two.

The child needs to recognize that they're doing it. Videotape them doing it and make them sit there and watch it.

 

[debilorrah]

My son is 20 and still does it in his sleep. His friends know about it and not a one of them give him a hard time. Lucky kid!!!

 

[deb1]

How does sucking on your thumb affect/effect(I get horribly confused with these two words

) your teeth?

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I'm not really sure? All I can think is that the sucking forces your teeth outwards? My thumb sucking was never really sucking. It was more of a placement on the roof of the mouth and setting it there. I remember it was a calming thing but that's about it.

 

[deb1]

Quote:
How do dentists know the difference between overbites caused by thumb sucking and just bad genetics? I am curious because my family all inherited the need for braces. No thumb sucking was involved. Are there different types of overbites?

 

[Marbleheader]

Quote:
Wow -- that is pretty scary. Parents really go for this?

 

[twentynine]

My mom would smack the heck out of my little brother. Boy ain't never been right.

All joking aside thumb sucking was and now that he is 48 the least of his problems.

Devil child-- every family has one. Mine was the middle boy.

I bet she'll quit sucking her thumb soon as one of her little friends makes fun of her.