Thumb sucking is usually involves placing the thumb into the mouth and rhythmically repeating sucking contact for a prolonged duration.
At birth, a baby will reflexively suck any object placed in mouth; this is the sucking reflex responsible for breast feeding. from the very first time they engage in nutritive feeding, infants learn that the habit can not only provide valuable nourishment, but also a great deal of pleasure, comfort and warmth.as the child grows older, and is eventually weaned off the nutritional sucking, they can either develop alternative means for receiving those same feelings by beginning to suck their thumb or finger.
Thumb sucking is observed when the child is Tired, Screed, and Bored. There are times when child feels sick or sleepy or when trying to adjust at new places such as preschool and day care, Kids will get used to Thumb Sucking.
Various theories are given by different people to explain thumb sucking habit.
Psychoanalytical theory:
Proposed by S.FREUD.
When kids feel more of insecurity or some underlying disturbances they will addict for Thumb sucking. Even stress can cause the thumb sucking habit to kids.
If we try to break the habit without eliminating the underlying cause then the thumb sucking is substituted by some other antisocial activity.
Oral drive theory:
Proposed by SEARS & WISE
When kids are exposed more to Prolongation of nursing or Strengthens the oral drive Thumb Sucking appears. To satisfy the oral drive child starts with thumb sucking.
Learning theory:
Based on this theory the cause of thumb sucking is adaptive response.no psychological cause. This is acquired as the result of learning.
Root reflex theory:
Proposed by BENJAMEIN.
Root reflex irks the movement of the infants head and tongue towards an object touching his cheek.the object is usually the mother’s breast but may also be a finger or a pacifier. This reflex disappears in normal infants around 7-8 months of age.
Phase1:-normal & sub clinically significant seen in first 3 years of life
Phase2:-clinically significant.it indicates that the child is under great anxiety.
Phase3:-intractable sucking. Thumb sucking persisting beyond the 4th or 5th year od life.
Children’s who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have dental problems than children who suck aggressively.
Psychological:
The parents should be counseled to provide the child with adequate love and effection.the childs attention should be diverted to other things such as playing with toys.
Chemical approach:
Use of bitter tasting or foul smelling preparation placed on the thumb that is sucked can make the habit distasteful. ex:asafetida, quinine
Mechanical aids:
A dentist will give the mechanical aids to break the habit.
These are 2 types
Bandaging the thumb and elbow
Thumb guard:-it is a devise with plastic cover of the thumb that is attached to a child’s wrist. this guard interrupt the process by breaking the vacuum created by sucking, thus removing the child’s pleasure.