Frequently Asked Questions

Our 6 year old son has terrible problems with his teeth. They are horribly decayed and they hurt him. We make him brush and rinse with Listerine 2 times a day. But he sucks his thumb. Could his thumb sucking be causing this rapid decay?

Not likely. The thumb sucking can be detrimental to the alignment of his permanent teeth, so it is a good time to help him stop this habit. Children have to want to stop themselves before any interventions will be successful. Your dentist should have ideas to help your son want to stop sucking his thumb.
As far as the decay, please consult your dentist for treatment and prevention. Dental decay is a preventable disease if oral hygiene is good and your child's diet is controlled to avoid sugars that cause decay.

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