What's a good way to stop thumbsucking?

Question

I've been sucking my thumb since I was in the womb. I'm 19 and I'm still sucking my thumb. It's a tough habit to break and I've been trying to stop over the years but it's hard and I don't really know how to stop. Can anyone help me?

Answer 1

hum by now you should have grown out of it.. the reason mostly you're doing it now is.... comfort, redundancy and if you are trying hard then end up waking to the thumb in your mouth is physical... all those years of having the thumb in there stimulated saliva production and keeps the mouth and throat moist.

soon as you try to rid that situation and you're asleep the body is seeing this as unusual and the throat and mouth begin to dry and well to protect itself from that the old body makes the thumb go right into the mouth to start this.

i thumb sucked for years... only to succeed and then having terrible sore throats... lympth in my jawline and throat and behind the ears would swell up so bad and i couldn't swallow without hollaring and being so upset and discusted.. i had to do it though get that thumb out because i had to get braces...

years of pain and i tried everything from sucking on hard candies to chewing gum but soon as bed time came.. the sleep waking up in pain because my mouth and throat was so dry and the glands would swell up real big..

my body got reliant on the thumb.... and it wasn't there and the body got used to the thumb making it possible for saliva production.. the old glands didn't know what to do.. they had to go back to the original way to produce the old slobber.... instead of having mr. thumb help that along.

took 4 years to finally get things back to right.. of course changing my diet, drinking more citrus juices...

it hurt like hell and the dentist was like.. yep that happens.. not much you can do but ease the pain with lubricants over the counter and foods... time will heal the pain.

so the sooner the better.. and now there's mouthwashes and other products that help keep the mouth moist so keep that in mind during your escavating the thumb from the mouth at night.

hope this works...

and diet will help too... if you don't have a intolerance to citrus... and find ways to keep the mouth moist and whenever you wake and find that thumb in there.. try wearing a glove and get some juice next to your bed so you can suck on that and some hard candy too.. don't choke on it! just have it there if your mouth or throat is dry and hurting to ease up the pain and get some saliva going.

hope this helps.

talk to your dentist too.

he may have some ideas.. it is in his / her catagory!

oh don't listen to those jerks telling you to see a shrink.. this is physical.. the purpose i BELIEVE is what i explained above.. it is for most cases. dryness from stopping the thumbsucking can be a painful experience through time.

Answer 2

I am twenty-five and still suck my thumb. I used to be ashamed of it but then finally decided it was my way of destressing, relaxing, and sometimes going to sleep. Since I am twenty-five, never had braces, and have never had major teeth problems I decided not to feel bad about it and my significant other understands and I have no qualms about curling up with him, especially after a particularly stressful day, and sucking my thumb.
Some people eat, some drink, some smoke, I suck my thumb...so what?
If you really wish to stop, there have been some good suggestions, though I think there is probably some link to comfort and security...not saying you are insecure...it just followed from childhood. You will need to look at that side as well when deciding to stop. You do not need a psychiatrist but you need to be aware that the emotional side is there.
No matter what process you choose (socks, fingernail polish, etc) just remember you have had this habit for 19 years...it will take a bit to break 19 years of something, you may get frustrated but you can do it if you really want to :) (Just like smokers, alcoholics, etc )
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Well Tina,
You have a variety of answers here but the ones who are telling you to see a psychiatrist are totally and completely wrong!!

I used to suck my thumb and my mom was told that I was sucking my thumb in the womb also. I was in the incubator and could find my thumb and it was the same one all the time (right thumb). :D

I sucked my thumb until I was about 17 or 18. I never had to have braces. My teeth were not pushed out. I was always complimented on having a beautiful smile. I only sucked from the bend of my thumb not the whole thumb.

When I quit sucking my thumb, I just stopped on my own. I only sucked my thumb when I was sleepy, angry, bored or during my sleep anyway. I never sucked it in public or at school.

My second oldest daughter, who is now 26 is still sucking her thumb! She was one who would suck her thumb in school and in public. She eventually had to have braces. The braces are off but she still sucks her thumb to this day. She is a very attractive young woman who has been cute througout her life despite her thumb.

My biggest rule was: "DON'T TALK WITH YOUR THUMB IN YOUR MOUTH!!!"

Now, she has a five year old daughter who sucks her thumb!! My granddaughter and daughter will sit around together and both of them will have their thumbs in their mouth!! Kind of ridiculous, I know, but they are two of the best people to know in life!! (thumbs and all) Great personalities, you don't even notice their thumb sucking marathons. :-)

I, personally think that thumb sucking children make the best children because they are content. They are easy to take a nap (will not fight sleep) and they are not hyper and all over the place. That thumb is soothing and comforting.

I made good grades in school and was not a problem to my parents. Respected my rules and boundaries. I had a content nature probably because of my thumb. My daughter was "chatty patty #1" but she was the same way. Her daughter is now "chatty patty #2" and she is a good little girl also.

If you want to stop sucking your thumb, that is something that you will have to make up your mind to do. When you are ready to stop, you will stop. Try a couple of the things that people have recommended, maybe the sock thing and if that does not work for you, then try not to think about sticking your thumb in your mouth. Try to fight the urge and train yourself to not do it. Yea, I know, it is easier said than done. That's why I said you will stop when YOU are ready. It will have to happen automatically.

You might have to accept it until you are definitely strong enough to stop sucking your thumb. To me, there are worst things in life than a child or grown person sucking their thumb.

(Grown men sucking their thumbs seems kind of wierd to me, though, I must admit.)


Once I stopped for a while, my thumb took on a new shape and after a while, it did not fit in my mouth anymore. That great feeling of my thumb in my mouth was gone. The urge had subsided and it even formed back into shape and you cannot tell that I ever sucked my thumb.

Good luck and don't stress over it. You shouldn't stress anyway, you have your THUMB!!! :D

Answer 4

Well first commend your parents for caring about your teeth and then put gloves on your hands at nite espeacially if you tend to do it while sleeping if you do it while trying to go to sleep try thinking of other things its phscilogical and can be control but will take will power, figure out why if its a comfort thing and helps you fall asleep try finding something else comforting like a stuffed animal or a speacial pillow or blanket once you identify the comfort factor then progress from there. some people never outgrow the comfort factor hence the reason that some people refuse to wash there pillows or cant sleep in unfamiliar settings just chin up and try not to stress cause you'll crave the comfort more also journaling will help write down your feelings both happy and stressful letting out the stress in this positive way will help and when your feeling really down reviewing the good days will make you feel good and maybe even laugh the stress away thus cutting the need for your comfort thingy " in your case the thumb sucking" hope this helps

Answer 5

I'm so glad that so many people answered that thumb-sucking never hurt their teeth. I sucked my thumb until I was 12, and my teeth are near perfect. My dentist has always praised them when I go in, and I've never so much as had a cavity. Parents freak out about such a silly thing like thumb-sucking, when they should be concentrating on other things.

If it isn't hurting you, don't worry yourself too much about stopping. Try the nail-biting polish, or thumb-sucking stuff. There are a few brands on the market for use on children, that you paint on the thumb.

Answer 6

Well my mum made a deal with my sister that she would quit smoking if she stopped sucking her thumb. It work. But incase you dont have a mother that smokes I would maybe put something that tastes gross on you thumb. Also see someone about it. It may be a sign that your feeling insecure about something . . .for 19 years so you suck your thumb for comfort . . . or not. It may be as you said a VERY bad habit.
Good-Luck

Answer 7

Put something that sticks (like peanut butter or molasses) on your fingers so that if you do suck it, you'll be punished with an awful taste, feeling, or even pain. Soon your body will get used to what happens and you won't need it. Try to find something that isn't very visible if you're going into public. If you can't, try only putting a smaller amount so that it doesn't show. But make sure it still has the effect towards you. Try using something edible!

Answer 8

OK , I've read over lots of answers here and obviously you are not alone. I can only tell you of my personal experience. This is not funny. I sucked my thumb in public into JR high school. Try to imagine the ridicule and humiliation that went along with that. It was not my secret to keep. The more I hurt the more this habit dug it's claws into my life. One thing finally gave me the will to stop. I took a risk and joined the baseball team and they gave me a chance. I worked my butt off and became the mvp my first year. I finally had the confidence in myself to put the effort into stopping. it worked. Try involving yourself in something you can both enjoy and excel at. luck rat

Answer 9

Painting something that tastes yucky on the thumbs can make sucking them less satisfying. Commercial products are available for this purpose. Other parents have had success with pickle juice or a drop of vinegar. You might have to switch flavors periodically.

Answer 10

Sally Hansen makes a product that is actually to help stop nail biting. You paint it on like nail polish and it has a horrible taste. It is available at drug stores by the Sally Hansen nail polish products. You could put it on your thumb and it will probably have the same results.
It is a habit which can be broken just like any other bad habit. You could also suck on sugar free mints. Ice breakers sours are awesome and they are sugar free.
If you catch yourself doing it just make yourself stop bcz it is probably an unconscious habit and you just find yourself doing it.
Hope this helps.
There is a guy at my work who is in his early 20's and he does it. People don't make fun of him to his face but they do make little jokes sometimes and I feel badly for him bcz he really is a nice guy.

Answer 11

Easy, just stop and suck on something else like candy. Buy a lot of candy and suck on that when you feel thumb suckingish and its sure to help. Hi, I used to be a thumb sucker, too. So I know what to tell other fellow thumb suckers.