Please Help With Ideas On How To Stop Sucking My Thumb!

Question

I have been sucking my thumb for all my life. But now , I need braces and I have to stop or they won't put them in , and I'll have wonky teeth forever.

I am at the moment trying not to , but it is hard as I wake up with it in my mouth!!

Please Help :)

Answer 1

You can use the same special nail polish some people use to help them stop biting their nails to help you stop sucking your thumb. It should work the same way so that every time you suck your thumb you get a bad taste in your mouth that'll remind you not to do it again. Even if it doesn't work, seeing the nail polish should help you remember not to suck your thumb. You may also want to try chewing gum to prevent you from sucking your thumb.

Answer 2

put some nasty taste on it...then you'll stop...best of luck

Answer 3

ware some mittens to bed,,-

Answer 4

There are numerous approaches to treat chronic (habitual) thumb sucking. They can be bundled into three categories:

Behavioral - (or behavior modification) - this approach suggests rewarding a child for not exercising the habit;

Aversive - this approach generates negative sensations when the habit is exercised, such as bad taste, pain or major discomfort;

Mechanical - this approach prevents or interrupts the process of thumb sucking

Aversive approaches can be divided into two categories: home remedies (such as bad tasting products and plasters, which usually don't work) and fixed appliance therapy, which includes intraoral devices (cribs or rakes), offered by dentists. These devices are fitted in child's mouth and glued to child's molars for the period from six to twelve months. These devices are rather expensive and they force children to alter their speech, and also make it difficult for them to eat certain foods (like peanut butter). "ThumbGuard™ provides a low cost option before this therapy needs to be tried".[1]

The mechanical approach category consists of devices, which are designed to prevent or interrupt thumb sucking, which appear to be the soothing factor for children. Examples include a sock over the hand or a bandage wrapped around the child's elbow. The latter would prevent the child from bending his/her arm and reaching their mouth.

The latest and most successful version of the mechanical approach is ThumbGuard™ - safe and efficient, listed by the FDA as a medical device. Made out of medical grade plastic material, ThumbGuard™ is soft and clear. It does not restrict child's ability to play and it doesn't cause any major discomfort. It interrupts the process of sucking by breaking the vacuum created by sucking, thus removing the  pleasure without creating any negative feelings, which can be interpreted by a child as a punishment. Treatment with ThumbGuard™ usually lasts four weeks and has very high success rate.

Answer 5

most habbits like this begin as nothing and then eventually become some sort of comfort method for us. that's why people who pop their fingers or smoke do it more in times where they're worried or stressed.

the best way to get rid of a habbit is to try to find another method of replacing that habbit, rather than just dropping it all the sudden. i'd try chewing gum. any time you feel like you want to suck your thumb, pop a piece of gum in your mouth instead.

i know how it's hard though sometimes when you don't notice you do it. i'm bad about popping my fingers and it's hard to stop because i do't realize i'm doing it until i've already done it. don't stress about that though. just keep from sucking your thumb whenever you are conscious of it and the less you do it that way, the less you'll do it when you're not worrying about it too.

good luck! i know you'll get over it. my sister sucked her thumb until she was 10! it's just a habbit like anything else that will take some time and effort to get over.

Answer 6

Put some vegemite on your thumb lol. Even if you like the taste (I love it but I'm aussie) it will sure wake you up quick smart.