My little one won't quit sucking on her fingers! Are her teeth going to be messed up?

Question

She is two and I don't get onto her that much because she takes them out to talk, so her speech is unaffected. I also feel bad about taking away her security. She cries I take them out of her mouth. I think she will stop eventually, but I don't want her to have bad teeth. My other 5 don't do this...any advice?

Answer 1

My son is addicted to his pacifier. We went to his 2nd dentist appointment last month and she said he has a cross bite from the pacifier, and we needed to get rid of it before Christmas so his bite can grow out normal. I asked if I should try to get him to suck his thumb instead and she said its just as bad.

Now if you are talking about just putting her hands in her mouth, I think they do that at this age bc the 2 year molars are growing in. My son does that once in a while, but he does not suck his hands for comfort [if that is what she is doing]

Hope this helps some

Answer 2

I'm 17 years old and I still find myself doing it, especially in uncomfortable places, or when I don't feel safe. It really is a comfort thing. I've been doing it since before I was born (we have ultrasounds to prove it lol) Its such a hard habit to break simply because I've been doing before I could remember.

Don't try sauces, or putting different products on her fingers, she'll just grow to like the stuff your putting on there, but don't be fooled, she won't grow out of it either. The best thing to do is just encourage her to stop, throw hints here and there, possibly even bribe her. My parents tried everything and I got so sneaky about it I used to hide my hand in my sleeve so they couldn't tell.

If the habit goes on long enough she'll probably get a small bump on one of her two middle fingers. This could get filled with puss and will need to be popped. (I speak from experience).

Also, her teeth will get messed up. I personally have a very rare side overbite where I've developed a crooked jaw requiring surgery just from sucking my fingers so the sooner she stops the better. Just remember, simple encouragement is the best route.

I hope this helps!!

Answer 3

It shouldn't be a problem.

One of my closest friend's sucked her thumb until third grade.

She did have to have braces, but so did everyone else in her family- I dont think that it was because she sucked her thumb.

I would give it some time before you take her fingers out of her mouth.

Answer 4

It is completely normal for this to happen. You child will NOT have bad teeth either. She would have to have her thumb in her mouth for many many hours and also for many years.

Chances are she will grow out of it soon.

Answer 5

If she keeps sucking on her fingers she could:

1-Get bucked teeth and need expensive, painful braces

2-Get tapeworm or pinworm, because mosquitos can lay their eggs on the ground and when your exploring little one gets dirt under her fingers and sucks it and swallows it, she might swallow an egg which will hatch in her intestine.  You should actually start seeing signs of the worm about three years after swallowing the egg.

To keep her from sucking on her fingers, you could dip her fingertips in something bitter that won't harm her, like hot sauce.

Answer 6

Probably. I remember seeing other children in my classes when I was in elementary school. Often, the ones that were sucking their thumbs had strange things going on with their top teeth, sticking out and such. Braces are expensive, no?

Answer 7

I take care of two little girls (6 and 3) and they both suck their thumbs... I yank their thumbs out of their mouths every chance I get, but it doesn't do much good... they stick them right back in as soon as I turn around. Just let her grow out of it - it's not really something you can force her to stop doing anyway.

Answer 8

my niece does the exact same thing...same fingers too...she is now 5 and still does it.. its her security and the only thing I've noticed it does is push out her lips a little bit and give her a tiny lisp...nothing bad but we cannot get her out of this finger sucking and so we don't really try to anymore .no point. we don't see it doing anything to her teeth...just lips and tongue i guess.

Answer 9

My son is 4 and he sucks his fingers still.  His teeth are just fine, I know he will grow out of it.  I dont think he will be on his prom date with his fingers in his mouth!!!  :)

Answer 10

yeah. her front teeth are going to be messed up. buy that thumb thing and put it on her thumb when she sucks on her thumb, she's gonna hate it because that thing u put on her thumb will taste bitter.

Answer 11

yes. sorry. one of my friends sucked her thum for a long time and now she has braces and she has a bracet that she has to twist and it hurts badd. and she has to get spacers and a touge gate so it wont push her teeth.

im sorry to say that she will have to get thousands of dollars in dental work andunnesscecary pain.

hope i helped.