February Monthly News

National Children's Dental Health Month

Be my Valentine!

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Provided by Dr. Bridget McLaughlin

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Thumbsucking:
toddler rebellion?


  Thumbsucking - nearly half of American toddlers do it.
Thumbsucking is one of the earliest and most common habits among children.
It's nothing for parent's to worry about - unless the habit persists.
  Many children suck their thumbs for security. It's most common when they're tired,
relaxing, sleeping or being scolded.
  Only after age four does thumbsucking threaten to damage a child's teeth.
Many children turn to thumbsucking to gain attention, to combat sibling rivalry
or to stand up to nagging parents. The more parents try and stop the habit,
the more determined the child will be to continue; for some kids,
thumbsucking is their first chance to buck the system.
  Here are some tips to help your child break the thumbsucking habit.
Parents should:
  • avoid punishing the child
  • provide play materials to occupy the childs hands;
  • keep supervision to a minimum; and
  • keep the home environment happy.
      As with adults who smoke, it's difficult to stop the thumbsucking
    unless the child wants to stop. If the child does not want to break the habit,
    most treatments are defeated before they are started.
      Peer pressure, often works well. If a good friend breaks the thumbsucking habit,
    it will encourage the child to imitate the friend's "grown up" behavior.
      In most cases, dentists can help parents stop the thumbsucking habit.
    The first step is to determine when and why a child is thumbsucking.
      Sometimes an orthodontic pacificer can prevent or replace a thumbsucking habit.
    Once the child becomes accustomed to the pacifier, he or she may not be interrested in
    thumbsucking. A child should be weaned from a pacifier, however,
    between the ages of one and two, before teeth appear.

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    Thumbsucking Test

    There are two categories of thumbsucking in children.
      One group simply rests the thumb in the mouth as a security blanket.
    The child might suck only at certain times, such as being sleepy or scolded.
    The second group continuously suck their thumbs, which can displace teeth severely.
      A simple test is to remove the thumb from the child's mouth.
    A "popping" sound signals a great deal of suction and pressure
    on the teeth that may cause an overbite or underbite.
      If the child is more than four years old, parents should discuss the child's habit
    with the family dentist, who can recommend methods to break the habit.

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    Toddlers' teeth

    Nearly 65 percent of America's toddlers have never been to the dentist,
    according to the National Center for Health Statistics. When teeth enter the mouth,
    brushing and flossing should begin. Regular trips to the dentist should start by age two,
    unless obvious problems exist earlier.
    Dakota
      Baby teeth are just as important as permanent teeth
    because they lay the foundation or permanent teeth.
    Good early dental care will pay off later in life.
      During a first visit to the dentist, a child receives an oral exam
    and possibly X-rays to detect cavities and to ensure proper
    jaw and teeth formation.
      As soon as teeth appear, cavities can start forming.
    Parents need to help children brush and floss until at least age seven,
    and continue to monitor after that.
      The Academy of General Denistry offers six suggestions for preparing a child
    for a first visit to the dentist:
  • Explain what a dentist is in simple terms.
  • "Play" dentist at home, giving the child a sense of what the dentist will do.
  • Describe dental instruments and how they help the dentist.
  • Explain that X-rays "take pictures" of teeth.
  • Never bribe a child to visit the dentist or use a dental visit as a form of punishment.
      Above all, parents should be careful to not pass on any fears of the dentist to their children.


    • Created by Kathy


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