finger sucking at age 11 - we've got to find a way to help DS stop

[mckenzie]

His over bite is about 11 mm, he can't swallow properly because his lips don't meet and he's scarring his bottom lip because his upper teeth rest on it.

In the past we have tried

Stop and Grow, the nasty lotion you put on the nails,
A finger guard
positive reinforcement
bribery
tape
gloves

It's mainly at night but sometimes when he's watching TV etc.

We've just been to the dentist and she is warning us that he needs to break the habit asap. DS wants to stop and says he will but he's said that before. Can anyone recommend anything else that we can try to help him?

TIA

[TeeElfOnTeeShelf]

Does he have any other comfort object, such as a blanket? I ask because my niece only managed to stop sucking hers when her blanket was packed away for good. Sucking went along with the blanket, so no blanket meant no sucking.

[Merrylegs]

I would take a good guess it is the finger sucking causing the problem. DD is the same age and has lovely thumb shaped overbite. She is still a determined thumb sucKer but is now in the first stage of orthodontic treatment and has just been fitted with removable brace "blocks" which are pushing her overbite back and lower jaw forward. She can't get her thumb in now and wears them all night. her mouth shape has already changed for the better. I would push for an ortho referral now.

[Bumply]

I sucked my finger until I was 18.
It can definitely deform teeth and roof of mouth. I have a finger shaped dint in the top of my mouth and my overbite has reduced since I stopped.
My mum used to plaster two fingers together which worked a bit during the day.
If its manly night time the sick over the hand sounds like it might work.

[Hopskipandjump]

My very good friend is a dentist. She said that the problem is it causes an overbite and permanent damage as regards the formation of the jaw. She is desperately trying to stop her 2 year old from sucking her thumb!

[mckenzie]

thank you for the extra posts and to Fryingpanalley, DS says 'thank you'. He's just read your comment.

The tissue/tape thing last night worked a treat and DS is very pleased with himself. We've given him praise but tried not to make too much of it.

As a coincidence, last night DS also suddenly got how to blow his nose after years and years of trying. We're so pleased for him. He's managed it again today so it wasn't just a one off.
If anyone has an 11 year old who can't blow yet they will know what a milestone this is.