Can problems result from prolonged thumb or pacifier sucking?
The intensity of the sucking is a factor that determines whether or not dental problems may result. Children who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously such their thumbs.Some aggressive thumbsuckers may cause problems with their baby teeth. The good news is as long as your child stops the habit before the permanent front teeth come in (at around 5-6 years old), there should not be any lasting changes on the alignment of teeth and jaws. Pacifiers can affect the teeth essentially the same way as sucking fingers and thumbs. However, pacifier use is often an easier habit to break.
