Free thumb-sucking consultancy in Dubai

Many children go through a phase of sucking their thumb, however it can start to be an issue when they start to form adult teeth.

Why do children such their thumb?

Many young children suck their thumb to self sooth. It’s a natural part of early development (you may have seen scans of babies in the womb sucking their thumb), however as children become older it can have an impact on their dental development.

When does it start to become an issue?

Most dentists believe that thumb sucking doesn’t become an issue until about the age of six, when children start to develop their adult set of teeth. On average, kids naturally tend to stop sucking their thumb between the ages of two and four, so it does not tend to have an impact on their adult teeth. If your child is still sucking their thumb after they turn four, it’s worth taking action.

What can you do about it?

Make a diary of when thumb sucking occurs. Is there any sort of pattern that appears? For example, do they tend to suck their thumb when they have less sleep? If so, making sure they get enough sleep could help stop the habit. If your child is old enough to reason with, talk to them about the negative impact of thumb sucking on their teeth, and give them a small reward if they go without thumb sucking for an agreed amount of time, slowly build this up until they stop completely.

Speak to a professional

Euromed Clinic Center in Jumeirah is offering a free consultancy over the summer, to help your little ones give up thumb sucking for good. Dr Rasha and Dr Sevdalina – who have more than 20 years of pediatric experience between them – are on hand every Saturday until September offering free consultancy appointments specifically targeted at helping to stop thumb sucking. For more information call +971 4 394 5422 to book an appointment or visit Euromed Clinic Center.