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Health Tip: Stop Your Child's Thumb-Sucking Habit
(HealthDay News) -- Thumb sucking may be a soothing pursuit for young children, but the instinctive practice could eventually damage the teeth, experts say.
The American Dental Association suggests ways to help your child stop thumb sucking:
- Rather than scolding your child for sucking the thumb, offer praise when the child isn't doing it.
- Find ways to offer comfort and ease anxiety, which may help stem thumb sucking.
- Have your dentist explain to the child why thumb sucking may be harmful.
- Bandage the thumb or apply an unpleasant-tasting medication (recommended by your pediatrician) to remind your child to stop the habit.
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