Thumb or finger sucking habits are quite normal in infancy and early childhood. Many children have these habits for their first few years of life and then stop naturally on their own.

Sucking habits become a concern when they are considered excessive. The intensity, frequency, and duration of the habit are factors that can help you determine if your child’s sucking habit is excessive.

Ask yourself the questions below as a guide:

1. Intensity: Is the thumb/finger being sucked forcefully enough that the thumb has developed calluses, or changed shape? Can you see strong contraction of the cheeks during the sucking?

2. Frequency: Does the sucking occur all day and all night? Does it occur in public or around non-family members?

3. Duration: How many years has the habit persisted? If permanent teeth become involved, there is greater concern.

How can I help?

Myofunctional disorders play a huge role in retention of oral habits. I wanted a better understanding, so furthered my education through The Breathe Institutes’ Oral Habits Program. I will work with you and your child to discover root causes and provide an individualized, child focused technique that is positive, and adapts to your families needs.

The nervous system needs stimulation from the tongue on the roof of the mouth. In the absence of the tongue on the palate, the nervous system somtimes compensates by instructing the thumb or fingers to put pressure on the roof of the mouth to help regulate the nervous system. Teaching the tongue muscles to live on the roof of the mouth typically will give the stimulation to the palate that the thumb used to provide.

The Habit Has Stopped, Should I Still See a Myofunctional Therapist?

YES! Even if the habit has stopped, the musculature does not always return to “normal” on its own. Often, because the child or adult has used the facial and oral muscles incorrectly for many years, these muscles need to be re-trained in order to function naturally. Unless the underlying cause of thumb sucking, finger sucking, object sucking or nail biting has been addressed the underlying myofunctional disorders can manifest in other habits that affect the formation of the mouth, and lead to a lifetime of jaw problems, orthodontic alignment issues, nervous system disregulation, and sleep disorders.

A “tongue thrust” is the lasting effect of a sucking habit and is considered to be symptom of a myofunctional disorder. If the muscles are not re-trained, problems with speech, orthodontic treatment, dental health, swallowing, digestion, breathing, and sleep may persist throughout life.