---
title: "Thumb Sucking is a Good Habit or a Serious Problem"  
description: "Learn to suck the thumb is one of the first physical skill that a baby acquires. In fact, ultrasound has proven that the baby sucks its thumb in the w"  
author: "Emily Bartels"  
published: 2019-04-14  
updated: 2019-04-15  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/44752/thumb-sucking-is-a-good-habit-or-a-serious-problem  
category: "hospitals"  
tags: ["health"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Thumb Sucking is a Good Habit or a Serious Problem

Learn to suck the thumb is one of the first [physical](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/82167/from-physical-to-digital-the-pandemic-acros) skill that a baby acquires. In fact, ultrasound has proven that the baby sucks its thumb in the womb. Baby have a natural sucking reflex and this [activity](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/12894/how-to-force-recreation-of-activity-fragment-on-restore) is normal for your baby.

Pediatric Dentistry

Most [children](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/52138/international-missing-children-s-day-2019-was-observed-on) gave up their habit when they grow up and generally stop between the age of 2.5 to 4 years. But what happens when your baby won’t stop his habit? should you [encourage](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/11812/4-ways-to-encourage-friendships-at-work) [your child](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/36500/what-is-the-weirdest-thing-you-have-ever-walked-in-on-your-child-doing) to stop that? When?

When is thumb sucking becoming a [problem](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/84543/mass-layoffs-in-2023-problem-for-employees)?

After your child turns to become 5 and start to arrive his [permanent](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50600/what-is-a-permanent-storage-in-pc) tooth than aggressive thumb sucking is what you need to do something to watch for. Thumb sucking put [pressure](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/82586/india-s-struggle-over-the-final-high-pressure-contest) on [your teeth](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/3535/is-mouthwash-good-or-bad-for-your-teeth) and gums and give the child the following problem at an early age:

Improperly aligned teeth

Lower front teeth can move inward

Open bite where upper and lower teeth don’t meet

Problems in chewing

Constantly sucking thumb can dry the skin and may cause nail infection.

Help your child by working with them

Be positive

Praise her when she remembers not to suck thumb. Make a chart to reward everyday sucking free day.

Talk about it

Depending on her age, it might help your child to understand why stopping this habit is important. We are happy to [explain](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/43852/what-is-shadowing-in-java-explain-with-example), in a positive age-appropriate way just how breaking teeth sucking habit would help her teeth and smile.

Again most children leave thumb sucking naturally and easily. But if what is concerned for you please give a call to Dr. Madhvi Nagpal. She will work with your child to stop thumb sucking and help to prevent the future orthodontic problem.

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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/44752/thumb-sucking-is-a-good-habit-or-a-serious-problem

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