Guide
Dummies, thumb sucking and how teeth develop
Sucking is soothing — it is a natural reflex and perfectly fine in the first months of life. It only becomes relevant when it carries on over a longer period.
What happens to the teeth
A dummy or thumb sits between the upper and lower teeth. Over time that can influence the position of the front teeth and the shape of the palate — a gap between the upper and lower incisors is the classic pattern.
What matters is how long and how often per day. If sucking stops in good time, many of these changes even out again by themselves.
A thumb is not the same as a dummy
A dummy can be put away; a thumb cannot. Thumb sucking is therefore usually harder to stop and more often continues at night.
At a routine appointment tooth position is assessed, and that determines whether and when something should be done.
What helps when stopping
- Pick a calm moment — not during upheavals like starting nursery or moving house.
- Cut back during the day first; night-time last.
- Make a ritual of it rather than making the dummy quietly disappear.
- Offer a substitute: closeness, a soft toy, a fixed bedtime routine.
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Last updated on 26 August 2026