Is your child too old to be sucking their thumb? Have you taken them to their first dental visit yet? These are just some of the questions that most parents find themselves encountering when dealing with their child’s teeth. For this reason, it is important for parents to become aware of certain issues pertaining to their children’s dental health.

The American Dental Association recognizes February as National Children’s Dental Health Month. The purpose of this is to raise awareness on certain dental issues and concerns that children and their parents face. Some of these issues include thumb-sucking, teething, appropriate age for dental visits, and general teeth care. Good oral health is an important part of a child’s overall health.

One of the most popular issues is thumb-sucking. Thumb-sucking is completely normal for babies and young children because it provides security for them. However, persistent thumb-sucking after permanent front teeth have come in may also become a problem when the upper front teeth begin to move forward and the new teeth do not come in properly. Usually if the child has not stopped sucking their thumb after age 4, they may face crowding, crooked teeth, or bite problems. To avoid these issues, Dr. Silvestro Iommazzo, of the Jamaica Hospital Dental Department recommends applying bitter tasting Aloe Vera to the child’s finger, as well as the following techniques:

• Apply hot sauce or bitter tasting nail polish to the child’s finger
• Give blankets or stuffed animals as security mechanisms for the child to turn to instead of thumb-sucking
• Have the child keep a calendar of how long they have gone without sucking their thumb and then reward them with a gift for their progress
• Use a mouth appliance that blocks thumb-sucking