Thumb sucking - how/when to give it up?

[loobyloo456]

Hi everyone, my DD 5yrs soon 6yrs sucks her thumb. Mainly at night time and when having a cuddle. I think it is causing her to have sore corners of her mouth and bad breath . I am interested in knowing up to what age is acceptable to suck your thumb, and any successful tips on giving it up! Thanks.

I may not be much help but here goes.

I sucked my thumb until I was 7. I just went off it one day (did not find it so pleasurable).
I think I was aware that no-one else did it- that it was babyish. Trouble was it had already made my teeth terribly goofy, and I had to have a brace a couple of years later. My mum was a dental nurse and she may have tried to discourage me (I'd have to ask her), but above all I think it was my decision.

I used to know an adult who still sucks her thumb! eg when watching television

I sucked my thumb until I was 18 and like Screamingabdab I just stopped needing the comfort one day. My Mother tried to get me to stop for years but nothing worked. It caused me no teeth problems or bad breath (as far as I know!) so if my DD is still sucking hers in a few years I'll leave her to it.

Thank you for your advice. I am worried about the teeth side, but the sore corners and bad breath are worrying me the most atm! I wonder if anyone has had a similar problem, or if the two are unrelated? We have tried vaseline and numerous creams, antibiotics and nothing seems to help! It's the only thing i can think of that is causing it. We've had blood tests incase she was anemic, but these are all clear, thank goodness! Don't know how to get rid of these! Maybe i should post a medical thread! Lol!

I cannot see how bad breath is related? do people with a natural overbite have bad breath? I am not sure.....you can try thumbguard.co.uk expensive but blooming well works. Hope this helps!!

I don't think everyone who sucks their thumb gets goofy teeth - I think it's to do with if you hook the thumb behind the front teeth and how hard you pull on them.

loobyloo - this could be my thread! our dd2 is nearly 4 and sucks her thumb all the time - we have tried the thumbguard and it waw a complete waste of £50. She oftern has sore mouth corners and a manky thumb as well with raw skin etc. I don't know what to do!

Interested to know why thumb sucking would cause bad breath.

Just asked my 8 year old if he still sucked his thumb and he said "Yes, nothing wrong with that!"

I sucked mine until I met my hubby at 23.

It has to be their decision, dd2 has agreed to stop and the encouragement of the orthodontist. Socks on hands at night with tape around them is working well but it has to come from them otherwise they will just start again. Think he said 3 months for the covered hands at night.

It's stopping dds front teeth growing down far enough.

I'm still trying at ahem....34

Well I'm not trying actually, I think I'm too old to give up.

I don't have bad breath or goofy teeth.

Interestingly, the thumbnail on the thumb I used to suck is really nice and strong and never breaks (not that interesting, actually ....)

my ds is nearly 4 and he sucks his thumb, my only gripe about it is he has very little nail on his 'sooky' thumb, anyone else noticed this on their dc (or themselves)?

oh x-posts, there is hope for the minging thumb nail!!!

DH's thumb from his sucky thumb doesn't really grow anymore even though he gave up many years ago!

Weird, maybe I've got something special in my saliva!

I have googled the sore corners and the photo's look like Angular Cheilitis. Which says a cause can be thumb sucking? I am also thinking of using a mouth wash with my daughter?