Do dummies and thumb-sucking damage teeth? When to stop and how to help your child quit

How much effect there is depends on how long, how often and how hard the child sucks. A thumb or dummy in the mouth all night has more effect.

• 0–2 years: Sucking is natural and soothing. No lasting effect on the teeth is expected.
• 2–3 years: Start cutting down.
• After 3: The risk of changes to teeth and jaws rises; stopping is advised.
• 6 and over (as adult teeth come in): Changes can become permanent; an orthodontic assessment is needed. See early orthodontics for children.

Dummies and thumb-sucking affect teeth in similar ways. The difference is how easy they are to give up: a dummy can be taken away at some point, but a thumb is always there, so thumb-sucking often lasts longer. There isn't enough evidence that dummies sold as “orthodontic” protect the teeth.

Don't dip dummies in honey, sugar or jam; it causes fast-spreading decay in baby teeth. See baby bottle tooth decay.

• Cut down gradually: daytime first, then sleep times.
• Notice when your child turns to sucking (boredom, tiredness, screen time) and offer something else to do.
• Use praise and a reward chart; mark the days without sucking together.
• Avoid punishment, teasing or shaming; they can reinforce the habit.
• For thumb-sucking, a glove or plaster on the thumb at night can act as a reminder.
• Don't push to stop during stressful times such as a new sibling, moving house or starting school.

• If the habit continues after age 4–5
• If there's a gap between the front teeth or the upper teeth clearly stick out
• If you notice a lisp or the tongue pushing between the teeth when swallowing

For thumb-sucking that continues after the adult teeth come in, an appliance fitted to the palate that reminds the child can be used. It isn't a punishment; the child's willingness makes success more likely.

At Dent32 we assess the effect of sucking habits on the teeth at children's check-ups, give families advice on ways to stop, and plan orthodontic follow-up if needed. See dental care for children in Beylikdüzü, tongue-tie and lip-tie.

Dent32 Ağız ve Diş Sağlığı Polikliniği (Dent32 Dental Polyclinic) is at Barış Mah., Ginza Lavinya, E-5 Yanyolu No:30 D:179, 34520 Beylikdüzü, Istanbul and is open seven days a week. To book, call or WhatsApp +90 555 011 33 68, or use our contact page. At the examination we share the findings, the options and the approximate cost in writing; you are under no obligation to start treatment afterwards.

For clinic details, our dentists and the full list of treatments, visit Dent32, dental polyclinic in Beylikdüzü.