finger sucking

[cengel]

My 8 year old daughter has been sucking her right ring & middle fingers since she was a baby. During last week's visit to the dentist we were told that she most definitely has to stop this habit. For the past 3 years my husband and I have been onto this with bitter tasting nail solutions and plasters but without success. She sucks her fingers to comfort her and to get to sleep but she does it all day round. Those two fingers almost seem bend upwards at their tips and also her nails are very soft there. The dentist told us that she will most likely need braces but that she has to stop sucking her fingers prior to that.

I was a two finger sucker until I was 10. I have perfect straight teeth, never needed a brace but my fingers are completely bent!

My mum used to bandage my fingers up but I still found a way to do it . The bitter stuff was horrible but I just got used to the taste.

My DS also did it but suddenly stopped of his own accord when he was about 6.

Sorry not much advice there but it's usually best not to draw attention to habits as it just makes it worse.

The only thing I did with my DS was to go into his room at night and take his finger out of his mouth.

Thanks so much though. It's just good to hear that others have been/ are going through the same.

When I was 8 or 9 the threat of braces made me stop myself (same fingers). I really didn't want them and remember thinking I wouldn't be able to suck fingers with braces. I don't think I was ever nagged. As I recall I was told I needed to stop but did it all by myself, which sounds very mature. So maybe I am remembering wrong....which is not very helpful sorry!

My 21 month old sucks those same fingers all the time......didn't realise it could last that long!! They already have scaly red skin on them!!