II. Definitions
- Non-Nutritive Sucking
- Non-Nutritive Sucking refers to Thumb Sucking and Pacifier use
- Normal developmental process that allows infants to self-soothe
- Spontaneous resolution in most children by age 2 to 4 months
III. Physiology
- Thumb Sucking is an innate reflex
- Self-soothing method in infants
IV. Epidemiology: Incidence
- Thumb Sucking extinguishes by 2-4 years spontaneously in most children
V. Management
- Behavioral methods to extinguish persistent Thumb Sucking
- Praise and reward children when they do not thumb suck
- Help find alternative soothing methods for children (e.g. stuffed animals)
- Reminders to not suck thumb (e.g. bandage on thumb)
- Involve older children in stopping Thumb Sucking (e.g. reward system)
- Bad tasting solution applied to thumb (e.g. Thum Liquid)
- Advanced measures for persistent Thumb Sucking beyond age 3 years
- Pediatric dentist referral
- Preventive orthodontics for custom appliances
VI. Complications
- Persistent Thumb Sucking beyond 4 years can interfere with dental development
- Permanent Teeth start to erupt at this time
- Pediatric dentist referral is recommended
-
Tooth alignment and mouth shape may be altered
- Dental malocclusion with overbite or crossbite may occur
- Nail Abnormalities
VII. Resources
- ADA Mouth Healthy