Q&A: My toddler still sucks his thumb—will this do damage to his teeth?

Fortunately, thumb sucking is not typically associated with damage to toddlers' teeth, so long as they stop before their permanent teeth start to come in. This is particularly good news, given the fact that thumb sucking is a natural reflex and particularly popular toddler past-time that can be quite challenging to stop, especially since children often suck out of habit to soothe themselves. The other good news is that most children stop sucking their thumbs sometime between the ages of 2 and 4 years—well before their permanent teeth start poking through and it poses a more significant problem. That said, some toddlers suck frequently and/or hard enough that it has the potential to cause problems even with their baby teeth, so it's always a good idea to have your toddlers dentist and/or pediatrician double check if you have any concerns.