Thumb Sucking and Pacifier (Non-

Nutritive Sucking Habits) and Gerund

 Thumb Sucking and Pacifier
(Non-Nutritive Sucking Habits)
 Thumbsucking is a natural reflex for children.
Sucking on thumbs, fingers, pacifiers or other objects
may make babies feel secure and happy and help
them learn about their world.
Young children may also suck to soothe themselves
and help them fall asleep.
Benefits of Non-Nutritive Sucking Habits

There are several benefits for infants who engage in

non-nutritive sucking habit, such as using a pacifier
or sucking a finger or thumb. Forming an oral habit
such as these demonstrates an infants early ability
to self-manage his or her emotions. Using a pacifier
or allowing thumb sucking can also help an infant
relax and center his or her attention. Non-nutritive
sucking typically occurs more when a baby is tired,
distressed, apprehensive, or bored, and
consequently, can help in providing the baby with
comfort and a feeling of safety.
 Pacifiers Recommendations

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) actually recommends parents put their infants to
bed with a pacifier. For reasons not completely known, this practice is proven to reduce the risk
of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which can occur until a child reaches their first
birthday. Offering an infant a pacifier at nap or bedtime is considered a healthy habit, but if
used for too many years, pacifiers can cause dental complications later. According to the
following guidelines, however, pacifier use is highly recommended for the first year of a babys
life:
Use a pacifier when placing an infant down to sleep, but do not force an infant to use a pacifier
or reinsert the pacifier into a sleeping babys mouth if it falls out.
Never coat a pacifier in any sweet solution.
Sanitize and replace pacifiers often.
If an infant is breastfeeding, do not introduce a pacifier until the baby is 1 month of age to make
sure breastfeeding is solidly and successfully established.
Never use a pacifier in place of or as a way to delay meals. Only offer a pacifier when you are
sure the baby is not hungry.
Pacifiers should include ventilation holes and have a shield that is wider than the babys mouth.
Pacifiers should be made of durable material and only consist of a single piece.
Always replace a pacifier when it starts to look worn.
Never tie a pacifier by a string to a crib or around a babys hand or neck. This highly increases
the risk for strangulation.
 Teeth?

After permanent teeth come in, sucking may cause

problems with the proper growth of the mouth and
alignment of the teeth. It can also cause changes in the
roof of the mouth.
Pacifiers can affect the teeth essentially the same ways as
sucking fingers and thumbs, but it is often an easier habit
to break.
The intensity of the sucking is a factor that determines
whether or not dental problems may result. If children
rest their thumbs passively in their mouths, they are less
likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck
their thumbs. Some aggressive thumbsuckers
may develop problems with their baby (primary) teeth.
 Habits

The detrimental effects of non-nutritive sucking habits are insignificant on

infants and children under the age of three. Sometimes, upper incisors
become tipped towards the lips, which is commonly known as buck teeth,
while other times these teeth are inhibited and may not erupt. Some
controversy subsists over whether the effects of pacifier use and thumb
sucking differ, but overall, research at this time shows differences to be
more related to the intensity of the sucking habit.
How much teeth change due to non-nutritive sucking depends on the
intensity, frequency, and duration of the habit, as well as how the thumb or
finger is positioned in the babys mouth. The most commonly identified
dental signs of an active non-nutritive sucking habit include:
Anterior open bite: the upper and lower incisors do not overlap
correctly when the teeth bite together. Movement of the incisors: the
incisors shift out of their correct and ideal position in the mouth.
Maxillary (Upper Jaw) constriction: the hard palate narrows due to
the internal pressures caused by the sucking and the pressing of the tongue
away from the hard palate into the floor of the mouth.
 Thumbs?

Children usually stop sucking between the ages of

two and four years old, or by the time the permanent
front teeth are ready to erupt. If you notice changes
in your childs primary teeth, or are concerned about
your childs thumbsucking consult your dentist.
 Usually children stop sucking their thumb or using a pacifier
between 2 and 4 years old, and over 20% of toddlers still partake in
these habits at 3 years old. Typically, pacifier users stop non-
nutritive sucking before thumb suckers, and older children who still
suck their thumb most often discontinue the habit due to peer
pressure at school.
The official recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry (AAPD) is children stop their non-nutritive sucking
habits by 3 years of age. Discontinuing these habits earlier
rather than later allows the mouth a better opportunity to re-align
itself before permanent teeth begin to emerge. If the child stops
early enough, many of the issues with his or her bite may fix
themselves. If the habits, however, continue as the permanent teeth
begin to surface through the gums, many of the adult teeth will
display the same effects of the non-nutritive sucking as the primary
teeth.
 How To Stop Thumbsucking?

Praise your child for not sucking.

Children often suck their thumbs when feeling
insecure or needing comfort. Focus on correcting the
cause of the anxiety and provide comfort to your
child.
For an older child, involve him or her in choosing the
method of stopping.
Your dentist can offer encouragement to your child
and explain what could happen to their teeth if they
do not stop sucking.
 Have a conversation with the child: Talk to the child about the problems their habit
will cause in a way that is easy for them to understand. Sometimes this is enough to
stop the sucking.
Remind the child: This can work for a child who has expressed they want to stop
sucking but just needs help remembering. Also, keeping a waterproof adhesive
bandage around the thumb or finger that the child sucks can serve as a good
reminder for the child to stop. Placing a mitten or sock over the childs hand at
bedtime can also help. Make sure the child understands this is a reminder, not a
punishment.
Implement a reward system: When employing this system, typically the child,
parent, and health professional all agree that the child with quit their sucking habit
in a certain amount of time, and then the child will be rewarded. The reward must
be something that motivates the child to truly stop.
Interrupt the habit physically: If none of these techniques are successful, and the
child really wants to quit the habit, there are two other methods that may work. 1.
Gently and loosely wrap the childs arm in and elastic bandage at night to prevent
the child from inserting their hand into their mouth. The bandage should not be
wrapped tightly. 2. A dentist can place an appliance in the childs mouth that keeps
the child from being able to successfully suck.
GERUND
 Every gerund, without exception, ends in ing.
Gerunds are not, however, all that easy to identify.
The problem is that all present participles also end in
ing. What is the difference?
 Gerunds function as nouns. Thus, gerunds will be
subjects, subject complements, direct objects,
indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
Present participles, on the other hand, complete
progressive verbs or act as modifiers.
 Read these examples of gerunds:
Since Francisco was five years old, swimming has been his passion.
Swimming = subject of the verb has been.
Francisco's first love is swimming.
Swimming = subject complement of the verb is.
Francisco enjoys swimming more than spending time with his
girlfriend Diana.
Swimming = direct object of the verb enjoys.
Francisco gives swimming all of his energy and time.
Swimming = indirect object of the verb gives.
When Francisco wore dive fins to class, everyone knew that he was
devoted to swimming.
Swimming = object of the preposition to.
 These ing words are examples of present participles:
One day last summer, Francisco and his coach were
swimming at Daytona Beach.
Swimming = present participle completing the past
progressive verb were swimming.
A Great White shark ate Francisco's swimming coach.
Swimming = present participle modifying coach.
Now Francisco practices his sport in safe swimming
pools.
Swimming = present participle modifying pools.
THANK YOU