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 Although
non-nutritive sucking habits during infancy and early
childhood are believed to be of little consequence
to the orofacial structures, such habits, when they
persist, may cause dental problems.[2]
Health professionals can help children
stop their non-nutritive sucking habit. However, it
is important to remember that the child must want
to discontinue the habit for the intervention to be
successful.[4]
Following are several approaches to
intervening with children who have a non-nutritive
sucking habit. These are presented in the order in
which they should be attempted.[4]
- Talk with the child. Discuss the problems
caused by the habit. Sometimes this alone is enough
to make the child stop sucking.
- Use reminder therapy. This approach is
appropriate for children who want to stop sucking
but need some help. An adhesive bandage secured
with waterproof tape on the finger or thumb can
remind the child not to suck. A mitten or sock placed
on the hand at night can also be effective. Stress
to the child that this is a reminder, not a punishment.
- Use a reward system. Under this system,
the child, a parent, and the health professional
agree that the child will discontinue the habit
within a specified time period and will then receive
a reward. The reward must be motivating to the child.
- Physically interrupt the habit. If none
of the preceding methods are successful, and the
child truly wants to stop the habit, two other methods
can be tried: (1) The child’s arm can be loosely
wrapped in an elastic bandage during the night to
prevent flexing the arm and inserting the thumb
or fingers into the mouth. Stress to the parent
that the bandage should not be wrapped tightly.
(2) A dentist can place an intraoral appliance in
the mouth that interferes with sucking.
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