II. Physiology
- Thumb Sucking is an innate reflex
- Self-soothing method in infants
III. Epidemiology: Incidence
- Thumb Sucking extinguishes by 2-4 years spontaneously in most children
IV. Management
- Behavioral methods to extinguish persistent Thumb Sucking
- Praise and reward children when they do not thumb suck
- Help find alternative soothing methods for children (e.g. stuffed animals)
- Reminders to not suck thumb (e.g. bandage on thumb)
- Involve older children in stopping Thumb Sucking (e.g. reward system)
- Bad tasting solution applied to thumb (e.g. Thum Liquid)
- Advanced measures for persistent Thumb Sucking beyond age 4 years
- Pediatric dentist referral
- Preventive orthodontics
V. Complications
- Persistent Thumb Sucking beyond 4 years can interfere with dental development
- Permanent Teeth start to erupt at this time
- Pediatric dentist referral is recommended
-
Tooth alignment and mouth shape may be altered
- Dental malocclusion with overbite or crossbite may occur
- Nail Abnormalities
VI. Resources
- ADA Mouth Healthy
VII. References
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies (from Trip Database) Open in New Window
| Concepts | Finding (T033) |
| MSH | D005386 |
| ICD10 | F98.8 |
| SnomedCT | 55644006, 192034007, 268780003, 154941005 |
| English | Sucking, Thumb, Thumb Sucking, thumb sucking, thumb-sucking, thumb sucking (history), Thumb-sucking, thumbsucking, Thumb sucking (disorder), Thumb sucking, Thumb sucking (finding), sucking thumb, Thumbsucking |
| Portuguese | Sucção do Polegar, Chupar no polegar |
| Spanish | Succión del Pulgar, Succión del pulgar, succión del pulgar (hallazgo), succión del pulgar |
| French | Succion du pouce, Suçage du pouce, Sucement du pouce |
| German | Daumenlutschen |
| Norwegian | Tommelfingersuging, Fingersuging, tommel |
| Czech | palec - cucání, cucání palce, Cucání palce |
| Dutch | duimzuigen, Duimzuigen |
| Hungarian | Hüvelykujj szopása |
| Japanese | ﾕﾋﾞｼｬﾌﾞﾘ, 指しゃぶり |
| Italian | Succhiare il pollice |
