Is the dentist right???

[MrsSnoops]

hi, I was wondering if there are any dentists out there who can answer this question for me.
My 3yo DS has a blanket at bedtime that he sucks. It is pretty disgusting, but it provides comfort. He has it in all night.
Recently I have noticed he has an overbite. Nothing hugely surprising as I had one and had braces as a child.
I took DS to the dentist for the first time last week and she asked if he was a thumb sucker and I said no he was a blanket sucker and she said I need to get rid of it.
Is she right. Will the blanket cause an overbite or not?
I don't want to get rid of it unnecessarily, but at the same time really don't want to cause problems with his teeth.
Many Thanks

I'm not a dentist.

Probably depends on how much he stuffs into his mouth

I'd tend to believe the dentist, though, if she/he spotted it without you saying anything.

I'm not a dentist either but I've seen blanket inflicted overbites before in relatives.

One strategy: Cut the blanket into long strips - he can still bite it but it won't be as comforting. Make the strips into a scarf for a 'very cold' teddy. Hopefully he will cuddle the teddy and get comfort, then teddy can lose the scarf eventually.

My ds has an overbite and was a blanket sucker - wish I'd known that.

Hi

I'm a dentist, and yes your dentist is right. All sorts of things can cause this but a common one is thumb or finger sucking and indeed blanket sucking. If he stops whilst he is young before his adult teeth come through there is a good chance it will sort itself out.

Hope you have some success in persuading him to give it up.

Thanks everyone for the replies.
If it will cause an overbite I will continue with getting him to give it up. We actually persuaded him to give it up a few days ago and he has been fine, but he had a few tears today and I felt really guilty. But now I know we are doing the right thing I shall keep on.