Thumb-sucking after age 2 a problem for TF kids?

[ceiba]

Do any of you have TF-raised kids who sucked their thumbs past age 2? And if so, did your kids develop orthodontic problems from the thumb-sucking?

My 2-yr-old sucks her thumb, and at her 2-yr checkup the pediatrician said that sometimes kids who suck their thumbs past age 2 end up with orthodontic problems- teeth pushed out of place- and sometimes they don't, and that there is no way to tell if it will lead to problems or not. I wondered if diet had anything to do with the probability of developing orthodontic problems from thumb-sucking. Perhaps kids who get more TF-style nutrition in their diets have stronger teeth and bones that are less likely to move out of place? Since my daughter has been sucking her thumb since she was in the womb (we saw it on an ultrasound) I find it hard to believe that it is "unnatural" and that kids in times past didn't do this too. I am ramping up my efforts to get minerals into her diet, but wondered if any of you had experience with this.

Thanks!
Cecilia

[MindfulBirth]

OK.. purely anecdotal..

My older sister sucked her thumb until she was 12 (!!!). Our mom fed us a very NT type diet (long before the book was ever written). My sister has the most gorgeous, straight teeth.

My youngest daughter is almost 6 and still sucks her thumb at night. She is my better eater (she doesn't even like cake or pie! If I hadn't pulled her out of my belly myself, I'd swear she was switched in the hospital!). Her teeth are also beautifully straight.

Hubby wants dd to stop sucking her thumb. I'm a lot more laid back about it and don't push the issue, especially since she is a somewhat sensitive child.

[ceiba]

Anecdotal evidence is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. My thumb-sucker is my better eater too, so I will just try to get lots of minerals and butter into her and hope for the best. Oh, and hope she gives it up before age 12 too!!!

[IsaFrench]

3 kids, the one who does'nt do any thumb sucking .... is going to the orthodontist two years earlier than expected ! go figure !

+ know people who sucked their thumb later than 12, some MUCH later than 12 and you wouldn't know by looking at their teeth ....