Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Sure when they were babies....of course, it's very comforting for them.

And now, it's not cute. AT ALL.

This is what my daughter had put in her mouth this weekend:
(not her mouth)



This is what it looks from the outside of her mouth.



Metal loops hanging down. Her thumb cannot fit in her mouth. Food gets caught. She's having a hell of a time eating. She can't talk very well. It's supposed to get better with time. In the meantime, we have an emotional mess on our hands. Crying, not being able to sleep, anger, tears accompanied by "Why would you do this to me?" "This was YOUR choice to ruin my life?" "I can't even talk like a normal person!"

She's going to be 10. The damage from thumbsucking is already there. Her jaw is has started to recede similar to this:



This is the damage (which has already started on her) that we're hoping to correct:


------------------------
Anyway, it's not so cute anymore. We tried the bad tasting Thum. We tried bribes for nailpolish, toys. It was all temporary. We used BandAids on her thumbs. We used surgical tape on them. I only wish we would have been stricter with stopping her when she was younger - or even considered getting the habit breaker when she was a lot younger to avoid the damage to her jaw. I always said habits are so much easier to break when they're younger.

I'm sorry to be on my about this but if I can save one parent the costs & one child the aggravation, it's worth it. If you have a thumbsucker, please act early.

Message edited 5/28/2013 12:01:46 PM.

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Thanks for the PSA. I applaud you for taking the necessary steps now to avoid further damage.

Hope it gets easier for all of you.

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Thanks for the PSA. My son was a thumb sucker until his 5th birthday. His baby teeth have that gap, but not the protrusion nor the turning. The tooth that he favored is discolored. His thumb still has a callus almost a year after he stopped sucking his thumb. I too tried many of the things you mentioned (nagging, nail polish, removing his hand from his mouth, band aids, lemon juice (which he liked)). What ended up working was talking to him when he was about 4 and asking him how old would he think someone should be that is to old to suck their thumb, he said 5. I asked him if he thought that he would be able to stop and if he could I would not bring the topic up again but he had to stop on his 5th birthday. For 8 months I had everyone stop mentioning it at all. On his 5th birthday he came to me and said I am 5 so I can't suck my thumb any more. Thankfully he has not done so since then. He will be 6 years old in 2 months. He has not gotten his permanent teeth yet, and I really hope that his will not be effected by the prolonged thumb sucking as a young child. FWIW I have an u/s photo of him sucking his thumb so for him he developed that comfort while in the womb.

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

My DD is 2 and I HATE that she is a thumb sucker. I notice that her top teeth come out a little bit, but she only does it when she is in her crib. I asked the ped. dentist and she said to wait a little.

Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

My DD I turning 4, and has sucked her thumb since 3 months. Her teeth are starting to protrude but not horrendous yet. What is/was concerning us more was that she has been sick so much and a lot of it is Bc those thumbs are in her mouth. We tried everything too. But then last month she came down with a horrific stomach virus and we used it to make a point (no flames!!). We told her the reason she got so sick was Bc she got germs from constantly putting her thumb in her mouth. We were trying to make the connection to her an guess what??? IT WORKED!! We also do a sticker chart and really stay strict with it and she's doing great. The first couple of days it seemed impossible and now it's so muh better. She does try and sneak it in when going to bed out of force of habit and we do stop her. I believe it's all or nothing , cold turkey, none of this you can only suck your thumb at night or for sleep etc. we say NO to it all.
Thank you for sharing.

Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

My DS did until he was 6 - had no intention of stopping. Two of his cousins got braces and he saw how miserable they were. I asked him if he wanted to have braces when he was older and he said no way. So I told him it's his choice - he can stop sucking his thumb now or he can continue and have braces later. Thankfully he chose to stop. It took one or two weeks but it was effective. Good luck with your DD.

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Ava got the same appliance last month. She is 8 1/2. She never sucked her thumb, but was addicted to the pacifier. She complained of pain for 1 day. Your DD will get used to it quickly and forget that it's even there.

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

I had the same appliance in my mouth as a child bc when I swallowed my tongue would push on my front teeth so I had to practice swallowing correctly but all I can remember is the roof of my mouth getting irritated from that thing!!

You DD will get used to it, good luck!

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

I wore one. its called a 'rake" right?

yup.

sucked my finger (not thumb) to the ripe age of 7.

i had the biggest lisp for wearing that and braces on at a very young age of 9.

i was a bottle opener and very unatttractive kid!

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Wow scary pictures. Neither of my girls sucked their thumbs but I did until 6 or so. Was told I would have all sorts of issues, including braces. In the end I never needed anything, including braces. My teeth went back to normal on their own. I must have been lucky!

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Yeah, I don't know..coming from a family of orthodontists and many thumb suckers I think this is extreme. The thumb suckers I know didn't even need braces! According to the orthos in my family as long as the child stops sucking his/her thumb before the permanent teeth come in...they will be fine.

I'm sorry your DD has to go through this but, maybe it's not your fault or the thumb sucking...maybe she would have had this issue either way...

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Posted by itsbabytime

Yeah, I don't know..coming from a family of orthodontists and many thumb suckers I think this is extreme. The thumb suckers I know didn't even need braces! According to the orthos in my family as long as the child stops sucking his/her thumb before the permanent teeth come in...they will be fine.

I'm sorry your DD has to go through this but, maybe it's not your fault or the thumb sucking...maybe she would have had this issue either way...

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Posted by nrthshgrl

Posted by itsbabytime

Yeah, I don't know..coming from a family of orthodontists and many thumb suckers I think this is extreme. The thumb suckers I know didn't even need braces! According to the orthos in my family as long as the child stops sucking his/her thumb before the permanent teeth come in...they will be fine.

I'm sorry your DD has to go through this but, maybe it's not your fault or the thumb sucking...maybe she would have had this issue either way...

It was definitely the thumbsucking. We can see the difference in pictures. I'd be very surprised if your family of orthodontists. I'm curious what they'd say about it.

Message edited 5/29/2013 9:17:17 PM.

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Sorry, Just re read your original post. Ava's appliance is not the same. Hers is for an overbite, but it does not have those 3 loops. I guess Ava's is just a regular retainer, but cemented in.

You have to do what is in your child's best interest. Hope she is feeling better soon.

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

I had the rake too! but it was on my retainer. I sucked my thumb until 7-8ish.

Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Former sucker here

I think it was until I was 9 or 10

I grew out of it on my own

When I went to get braces at 11/12, I had a severe crossbite. The doc never mentioned my jaw, but looooking at those pics, my bottom jaw does go in more than normal. I think that may be due in part to genetics too though. My new dentist had mentioned breaking my jaw and resetting it. I'm not doing that!

I had braces for 4 years.. Had to have a palate expander. Was told I had tongue thrust and needed to go to speech therapy. Oh awful. Ugh this brings back so many memories.

Even now my bite isn't close to perfect.

I'm glad my kids aren't thumb suckers. I do believe it played a big part in my teeth and should be stopped past a certain age.

I'm sorry you're going thru this, OP. :(

Message edited 6/1/2013 6:43:04 PM.

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

I am sorry you are having to go thru this with your thumb sucker.

I was a serial thumbsucker until about age 10 .

I have perfectly straight teeth, no braces.

Re: Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

This scares me! My son is only 19 months but is an avid thumb sucker. His teeth are already coming in crooked and his mouth is already taking that thumb sucking shape. I don't know how to get him to stop.

Anyone think thumbsucking is cute?

Thanks for this post, my ds is 2 1/2 and I am trying to get him to stop but he wont on his own..just bought something to try and once it comes in the mail