Thumb Sucking: An Innocent Habit with Possible Consequences!

It’s often the very first habit that helps a child self-soothe and feel calm—sometimes starting as early as in the womb. Thumb sucking is associated with feelings of safety, comfort, and relaxation. It’s a natural and innocent act, but it can lead to problems if it continues past the age of 2.

Thumb sucking may affect a child’s dental development, swallowing patterns, and speech.

Dental malformations, such as improper alignment between the upper and lower jaw, are common consequences of prolonged thumb sucking. The child may also develop an atypical swallowing pattern, pushing the tongue forward and out of the mouth, which exerts pressure on the teeth. The palate may also become deformed and raised.

This altered oral structure inevitably affects speech, often resulting in articulation issues with sounds like /s/, /z/, /l/, /r/, /n/, /t/, and /d/, due to tongue thrust.

Early intervention is key.
A Speech and Language Therapist can help not only with articulation but also with retraining the swallowing pattern, supporting healthy oral development.

Tips for Parents:

• Talk to your child in an age-appropriate way. Acknowledge that thumb sucking helps them relax, and explain why it may become a problem. Let them propose ideas and participate in the solution.

• Engage your child in activities that keep their hands and minds busy to distract them from the habit.

• Avoid scolding or shaming them—especially in front of others.

• Use a reward system. For example, give a star each time they watch TV without thumb sucking. After 10 stars, offer a small reward.

• Gently remove the thumb from their mouth without pressure or criticism.

• At night, you can loosely wrap the child’s hand in soft fabric as a gentle reminder.

• Be patient. Changing a habit like this takes time.

• Seek professional guidance from a dentist, orthodontist, or speech and language therapist.

Maria Lazarou
Speech and Language Therapist (SLP, BSc, M.A.)
Head of the Multidisciplinary Team, Evlogon