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Will a dummy or thumb stop my baby’s teeth from developing properly?

Persistent thumb-sucking can force your child’s teeth forwards into an unnatural position. This habit can also damage the growth of upper palate (roof of the mouth). However, this is only likely if your child is still thumb-sucking by the time they reach school age. Thumb-sucking babies and toddlers shouldn’t have too much of a problem as long as they break the habit before they’re too old.

Every parent will have an opinion on thumb-sucking, dummies and whether their use is right or wrong. It can’t be denied that young children find the action of sucking soothing, and thumbs do have the advantage of being always available. Dummies can fall on the floor or get lost. However, it’s thought that dummies are less damaging to teeth than thumb sucking because they are usually gone before milk teeth arrive, and they can easily be removed from your baby’s hand.