Most children stop sucking habits on their own, but
some children need the help of their parents and
their pediatric dentist. When your child is old enough
to understand the possible results of a sucking habit,
your pediatric dentist can encourage your child to
stop, as well as talk about what happens to the teeth
and jaws if your child does not stop. This advice,
coupled with support from parents, helps most
children quit. If this approach does not work, your
pediatric dentist may recommend ways to change the
behavior, including a mouth appliance that interferes
with sucking habits.