Breaking the Thumb-Sucking Habit: A Guide for Parents
Why Thumb Sucking Happens?
Thumb sucking is a natural, soothing reflex for infants and toddlers. However, if it continues beyond age 3, it can affect your child’s developing mouth and teeth. Long-term thumb sucking may lead to:
Changes in the roof of the mouth (palate)
Open bite or overbite
Speech development delays
Incorrect Tongue posture and mouth breathing
When Should I Be Concerned?
If your child is still sucking their thumb past age 3 or does it often during the day, it’s time to gently help them stop. Earlier intervention leads to better results-especially before permanent teeth come in.
How Myofunctional Therapy Can Help?
Myofunctional therapy focuses on retraining the muscles of the mouth, face, and tongue. Children who suck their thumb often develop poor oral habits like incorrect tongue posture, mouth breathing, and low muscle tone. Therapy includes simple daily exercises to:
Encourage correct tongue resting position
Improve breathing through the nose
Support healthy oral growth
Reduce the urge to suck the thumb
Try This: “Find the Spot” Exercise
Teach your child to rest their tongue on the roof of their mouth-just behind the front teeth. We call this “the spot.”
Steps:
Have your child smile and open wide.
Help them feel the ridge just behind the upper front teeth with their tongue.
Practice saying “Nnnn” – this sound naturally puts the tongue in the right spot!
Remind them to keep their tongue resting there throughout the day, especially when not talking or eating.
This helps keep the mouth closed, supports nasal breathing, and discourages thumb sucking.
**If your child is unable to reach the roof of their mouth with their tongue, it may be tongue mobility issues or an anatomical condition called tongue tie. If you suspect your child has tongue mobility issues or a tongue tie, please mention it at your next dental visit.
To learn more click on the links below:
More on Tongue Ties-https://www.sunrisepedsdentistry.com/frenulectomies
Additional tips to Break the Habit:
Use positive reinforcement, like sticker charts or rewards
Try Mavala Stop, a bitter-tasting but safe clear nail polish that discourages thumb sucking. Apply it daily to the thumbnail to gently remind your child to keep their thumb out of their mouth.
When to Get Help
If your child struggles to stop thumb sucking or shows signs of speech or dental changes, we may recommend a consultation with a myofunctional therapist to support the habit-breaking process. We recommend:
Cherry Creek Orofacial Myology
Monique Minnard, RDH, COMT
720-341-9361
https://www.cherrycreekom.com/
Coulson & Associates Orofacial Myologists
Kristi Valdez
303-759-2760