• Parents
• School Injuries
• Airway Obstruction
• When do Teeth Erupt?
• Thumbsucking
• New Guidelines for Parents of Thumbsuckers
• Cavities May Slow Child's Growth
• Sealants
• Breastfeeding and Oral Health
• Breastfeeding and Dentistry
• Teeth Discoloration in Children Linked to Fluoride
• Ways to Get Children to Brush More Often
• Top Ten Foods Most Likely To Cause Choking In Children
• Help Prevent Cosmetic Dental Problems In Children
• What Can Cause Childrens' Teeth to Stain?
• Cavity Prevention in Children
• Pediatric Vitamins
• Pediatric Dental Problems
• Cold Sores and Children
• Children and the Dangers of Mouthrinses
• Chewing Gum and Children

Parent's

NEW GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS OF THUMB-SUCKERS

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, have developed new guidelines for parents of thumb-suckers. The study found that it is best to intervene when your child is between the ages of 4-6 years old.

The reasoning is that at these ages, the children have not yet developed protruding (buck) teeth and/or other conditions that may necessitate orthodontic intervention.

Some approaches that can be taken, according to  Brett Larson, D.D.S. , M.S. , Mayo Clinic orthodontist is the following:

• Have your dentist or pediatrician explain to your child, with photos, what problems can result from thumb-sucking.
• Identify when your child is most prone to thumb-suck, for example, while relaxing or when over-stressed. Let him or her know that if they feel any of these ways, to be careful not to thumb-suck at these times.
• Get a calendar and place it in a visible location. Place a gold star sticker on any half or full day that the child does not thumb-suck. This should make the child feel much more motivated instead of negative comments, which may make the child feel worse.