We've tried all the psychological tricks, like telling her that her fingers and teeth will look ugly, taking her to the dentist and letting him tell her it's messing up her teeth, etc... She uses it as comfort and we are constantly telling her to stop. We've thought about an appliance, but hate to go that far... Any suggestions??
2006-07-30 03:30:53 · 31 answers · asked by alisa2kids 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
I understand your concerns about her teeth. Truth is she will outgrow it. My cousin and I both sucked our thumbs and I had to have braces and he didn't ,my teeth would have needed them if I did not suck my thumb. We are both grown now and have children of our own (who never sucked their thumbs!), but if my daughter or his son did we would not make it a issue because of what we went through with the adults in our lives when we were kids.
2006-07-30 03:42:13 · answer #1 · answered by CharKaye 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a child, I too sucked my middle fingers, & nothing worked to get my to stop. My parents used bribery, they sewed the openings of a long sleeved shirt shut (I managed to get my fingers through over time). When I got a little older, I had to wear a Bionator,(The Bionator or removable functional appliance is used for Pendulum anchorage in those brachyfacial types with short mandibular corpus length. It serves to maintain the distalized molar position while developing the lower arch forward.) which I hated and was too embarrased to wear and rarely did, resulting in me having a rather large overbite. I highly suggest an appliance that blocks sucking habits b/c it will only be temporary and has great benefits. Good luck.
2006-07-30 03:42:11 · answer #2 · answered by Sarabeth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 15-yr-old daughter did the very same thing...but it probably lasted beyond the age of six. We just left her alone. Our dentist, whom we've had for years and is excellent, never stressed that the habit would have lasting harm.
It most likely is a "comfort" to her, like a teddy bear or blanket might be to a younger child. It gives her security. When our daughter fell asleep,she'd still have those 2 little fingers in her mouth.
At some point, she will stop on her own. Ours did. Don't worry about it.
2006-07-30 03:34:52 · answer #3 · answered by 60s Chick 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brother sucked his finger until he was about 12, and his front teeth look awful. You've got to do SOMETHING about this. Therapy, prescription medication, SOMETHING. The pepper stuff on the fingers doesn't work; my brother just washed it off. Telling him about messing up the teeth didn't work (obviously). I think some combination of therapy and medication would have been the only thing to help him. IMO, it's definitely a psychological problem.
2006-07-30 03:37:41 · answer #4 · answered by poohu812many 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sucked my thumb until I was 6 when my mom talked a dentist into making me a retainer. I screamed one whole night, but never sucked my thumb after that and didn't have to wear the retainer any more either. Make sure you get the old school retainer though, the new ones won't stop you from fitting your fingers in your mouth.
2006-07-30 06:14:00 · answer #5 · answered by Hunny Bunny 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OH MY GOSH.. i did the same exact thing from the time i was born until when i was about your daughters age. My grandmother used hot sauce, band aids, things that smelled, and my parents used every other thing you can think of. But you already know its her comfort and regardless of what other people may say u have to let this run its course.. see with me, my parents wrapped medical tape over my two fingers every night before i went to sleep, so yes i did stop sucking my two fingers, but within the week i had moved on to my thumb. I'm 15 and just stopped sucking my thumb last year... i just told myself that i was to big to do it. if i were you i would tell my daughter this " mommy and daddy are not going to make you stop sucking your thumb because you have to be a big enough girl to stop on your own.. we wont force you to.. but big girls shouldnt suck there fingers."
once she realizes there isn';t any pressure she will more than likely begin to wean herself off of it.. like me .. once my parents got off my back about it i stopped.. the person has to make the decision themselves
i hope this helps
-Tayy
2006-07-30 03:41:17 · answer #6 · answered by ** WINGS ** 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All you can really do is keep telling her to stop and pull her fingers out of her mouth each times she does it around you guys. Other than that they sell an awful tasting topical solution that you put on their fingers and thumbs to prevent this sort of thing.
2006-07-30 03:34:44 · answer #7 · answered by cave man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
both of U go to the Store an buy some real nice finger nail polish with glitter, let her choose the color, then paint her nails and tell her, that she can't suck on her finger anymore, because it would ruin those beautiful color/glitter...in 1-2 weeks , the thrill will be gone, its all a habit anyway to suck on fingers...god luck..
2006-07-30 03:35:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just be patient. Reward her once she doesn't bite her fingers. Punish her once she doesn't. Punishment does not need to harm. You can ground her or take away her toys. etc. Reward her and show her some TV. shows that discourage the behavior.
Be consistent with your rewards and punishments. In psychology it takes about four or five months. Don't shift styles. Be consistent with one and it is bound to work
2006-07-30 03:34:55 · answer #9 · answered by Flordeluna A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 6 year old sucks her fingers too. You just have to let her grow out of it. Eventually she will
2006-07-30 03:34:59 · answer #10 · answered by Fairy*Blue*Eri 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋