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Why Some Continue to Suck Their Thumbs as Adults

Thumb sucking is a natural, reflexive behavior that helps infants soothe themselves and learn how to accept nourishment.

The majority of newborns demonstrate thumb, finger, or toe sucking behaviors within hours after birth. Many even sucked their thumbs in utero.

Thumb sucking is common among babies, toddlers, and young children. Many kids who suck their thumbs stop doing so without intervention once they reach school age.

Others respond to mild forms of intervention from their parents.

No specific data exists that indicates how often thumb sucking continues into the teen and adult years. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that there are many adults who suck their thumbs — perhaps as many as 1 in 10.

While most childhood thumb suckers stop on their own, a percentage seem to continue in private for decades. For some, thumb sucking may even be a lifelong habit.

The reasons for this aren’t completely understood. It could be this behavior provides comfort and reduces anxiety for those who do it.

While relatively benign, thumb sucking isn’t without side effects, particularly to dental health.

Causes of thumb sucking as an adult

Adults who suck their thumbs may find that it reduces anxiety and stress, helping them to calm down.

It’s possible that some adults who suck their thumbs experienced trauma during childhood and turned to the behavior to calm themselves down during that time. In some instances, the behavior may simply stick, making for an easy-to-access stress reliever.

Thumb sucking may also become a habit that’s almost involuntary, used to relieve boredom in addition to stress.

There is anecdotal evidence indicating that some people with trichotillomania, a condition earmarked by an irresistible urge to pull out scalp, eyebrow, or body hair, also thumb suck.

Age regression is a condition in which a person displays behaviors more typical of people who are younger than them. Thumb sucking is sometimes associated with this condition.

Thumb sucking effects:

-Misaligned teeth (dental malocclusion).

- Changes to the roof of the mouth.

- Oral infection.

- Problems with the thumb.

- Difficulties with speech.

How to stop adult thumb sucking

Some adults have reported that they were able to stop sucking their thumbs by making a decision to do so and sticking to it. This may not work for everyone, especially if the behavior has become a long-term or subconscious habit.

Home remedies

If possible, try to identify the triggers in your life that prompt you to suck your thumb. Anticipating when the behavior occurs may help you reduce it by giving you time to substitute stress-relieving techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, and exercise.

Strategies such as covering your thumb with fabric or with a foul-tasting substance may work.

Keeping your hands busy with a fidget toy or a stress ball may help you to get past the urge.

Other things to try include popping a mint or stick of gum into your mouth when you feel the desire to suck your thumb.

Behavioral therapy

Seeing a mental health professional can provide you with other tools and coping mechanisms. Behavioral therapy has been well documented as discouraging negative activities.

The takeaway

There is no specific data on adult thumb sucking, but it may be more common than people realize.

Like childhood thumb sucking, adult thumb sucking may cause or worsen problems with bite and speech.

If you’re looking to stop thumb sucking, consider talking to your doctor. They may have additional suggestions for helping you quit the habit.

(06/17/2021)
by Healthline

More Information: https://www.healthline.com/health/adult-thumb-sucking#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20specific%20data,consider%20talking%20to%20your%20doctor.

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