Thumb sucking is a common habit for young kids as they seek relief from their newly erupting teeth, but did you know thumb sucking for an extended amount of time can impact your child’s future smile?
Constant thumb sucking can cause the newly erupting teeth to shift their position or even cause them to not erupt fully. This can cause your child’s teeth to be out of occlusion (abnormal position of teeth) or cause an open bite. An open bite looks like a big gap between the front top and bottom teeth. Another cause of an open bite could also be constant tongue thrusting.
This is why it’s important to visit the dentist early to recognize any signs of an open bite forming or teeth getting out of occlusion. If detected early, simple behavior modifications can prevent major damage; however, more serious options like braces or surgery might need to be considered if the damage extends to the adult teeth.
If you have any questions or want more information, we invite you to call our team at The Smile Team in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, today at 416-546-5599. We look forward to helping you in any way we can, and we thank you for the opportunity!