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At the tender age of four months, Micah Orvitz discovered his thumb -- and it was delicious. He soon became addicted, sucking it all day and all night, often while clinging to Rafiki the monkey, his favourite stuffed animal.

"I was ecstatic because it meant that he could self-soothe, and that's what helped him sleep through the night," recalls Mandie Orvitz. Micah was a colicky baby and never took to a pacifier, "so when he took his thumb I was very happy," says the Toronto mom of two boys.

Thumb sucking among babies and young children is very common -- some babies even discover their thumb in the womb. The act can often bring comfort and a sense of security to a child while offering parents some much-welcomed relief.

Kids and thumb sucking

Left unchecked, however, persistent thumb sucking can eventually affect jaw development and teeth alignment, even before a child's permanent teeth come in. Thumb sucking narrows the upper jaw, and many long-term thumb suckers also have an open bite at the front with their top teeth pushed out, commonly described as buckteeth.

"I think there's going to be an impact no matter what, but if you stop early in life, the tendency for correction will be higher," says Dr. Wendy Tang, a pediatric dentist based in Surrey, B.C. "Once the adult teeth come in and they're still sucking, then we pretty much will be looking at being more active in stopping it in terms of using orthodontic appliances."

Tang is quick to point out that thumb sucking among very young children isn't bad: "It's part of our natural reflex to suck," she says. "Babies use their mouths to explore and learn, so that's part of the reason why thumb sucking comes about.

"It helps relax them," she continues. "It soothes them and it also induces sleep, so when they're sucking their thumb they're trying to put themselves to sleep, and that's why it usually happens when they're tired."

How to encourage your child to stop thumb sucking
Knowing when to cut it off is key, according to Tang, who says that if kids stop thumb sucking before their permanent teeth come in, it's less likely to cause any long-term issues. Pediatric dentists try to encourage children to stop thumb sucking by four to five years of age at the latest, although parents may start trying earlier, depending on their child's readiness.

So before you start socking away money for your child's orthodontic fund, first consider the following advice.

1. Make sure your kids are ready

Before the age of three, children are usually too young to give up the thumb. "I think they have to be old enough to actually comprehend and understand the reasoning," says Tang.

Mandie Orvitz agrees: Micah wasn't ready to stop thumb sucking until he was three-and-a-half. "If you take it away too soon, it might not work," she says.

2. Remove crutches

For Micah, thumb sucking and holding his favourite stuffed animal -- which rarely left his side -- were inextricably linked. Once she felt Micah was ready, Orvitz started implementing a rule where her son could bring his stuffed animal with him in the car, but would then have to leave it there once they reached their destination.

"If he didn't have the stuffed animal with him, he wouldn't suck his thumb as often," she explains.

3. Look into your parenting bag of tricks

Distraction is a well-proven strategy in many situations, and thumb sucking is no different. Tang suggests giving a child a puzzle or toy to occupy his hands when you sense he's about to put his thumb in his mouth.

For Orvitz, a fun kiddie Band-Aid on Micah's thumb did the trick. Although Micah originally needed the Band-Aid after cutting his thumb, Orvitz continued using it even after the wound healed as it prevented him from sucking his thumb.

4. Use an authoritative figure
Tang says parents will often ask her to tell their kids to stop sucking their thumbs. "A lot of times just being an authoritative figure tends to help," she says, adding that kids tend to take the directive more seriously when it comes from her, and that this has worked for many patients.

"At home, parents can ask -- 'Do you remember what Dr. Wendy told you today?' -- and so that way it's a good reminder and that seems to stick in their minds a lot more than when it's Mommy saying it, because Mommy probably says it about 10 times a day."

5. Use positive reinforcement

When Micah stopped sucking his thumb, Orvitz took him to a toy store and bought him a little gift. His grandparents did the same, showing him how proud they were.

"That really encouraged him to continue with the good work," she says. "He knew it was a big step for him."

Tang also advises parents to use positive reinforcement, whether it's in the form of kind words, stickers or something else that will resonate with their child.

6. Don't force your kids

Although parents may get frustrated by a die-hard thumb sucker, getting angry is a losing strategy. "It's kind of like toilet training -- you can't really fault them," says Tang, adding that yelling will only make things worse, sometimes leading children to hide when they suck their thumb.

"They become so guilty about sucking, they will just not tell you. Whereas if you keep it positive you can work on it together and I think that works out better," she says. Most children naturally wean themselves as they get older, before their permanent teeth come in.

Even if it seems as though your little one would sooner part ways with his best friend than give up sucking on his favourite digit, Tang says parents should not lose hope. "Like anything else, you have to be persistent about helping them out," she says. "Don't get upset at your child, because a lot of times they don't want to do it, but they don't know how to stop."

She adds that parents should keep trying at different ages. "Try it when they're young, don't give up if they can't stop, and just keep trying as they get older because they change all the time," she says.

And if all else fails, know that your child's dentist is armed with some powerful tools that are almost guaranteed to work. "The next strategy is putting it in the dentist's hands to use an actual appliance to try to stop it," says Tang.

Many people who are careful about brushing and flossing their teeth wonder how they still end up with cavities or tooth decay. Several factors affect wear and tear on tooth enamel. Diet is a major factor, with certain foods increasing the likelihood that your enamel will become discolored or decayed. Pay close attention to the foods you eat to keep your pearly whites looking healthy and clean.

What Causes Enamel Damage?

Tooth enamel refers to the hard, semi-translucent, whitish part of the tooth that shows above your gums. The enamel is primarily composed of minerals that are strong but susceptible to highly acidic foods. When acid reacts with the minerals in enamel, tooth decay results. Strongly pigmented foods can also damage enamel by discoloring the surface of the tooth.

Foods that Harm Enamel

Acidic foods are the greatest source of enamel damage. To determine whether a food is acidic, look up its pH. Scientists use pH, on a one-to-seven scale, to define the relative acidity or alkalinity of a substance. Foods with low pH levels, between a one and three, are high in acidity and may damage your enamel. Foods with high pH levels, such as a six or seven, are far less likely to cause enamel harm.

So which foods should you avoid? Many fruits are high in acidity, including lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. The high sugar and acid content in soda makes it another huge contributor to enamel decay. Moderately acidic foods include pineapple, oranges, tomatoes, cottage cheese, maple syrup, yogurt, raisins, pickles, and honey. The foods that are least likely to cause enamel damage include milk, most cheeses, eggs, and water.

Beverages such as red wine and coffee also damage the enamel by discoloring it. Although stains do not necessarily undermine the integrity of your teeth, they can be unsightly.

What Can I Do to Prevent Enamel Damage?

Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to prevent your enamel from discoloring or decaying. The easiest way to avoid decay is to steer clear of high-acidity foods. This may not always be possible, but eliminating sugary fruit juices and soda from your diet is a good start. Brushing your teeth after each meal and flossing frequently also preserves your enamel. Another good idea is to rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash after eating to wash away high-acidity particles.

Although enamel damage is common, it does not have to be an inevitable occurrence. Knowing the foods that harm your teeth gives you the tools to prevent discoloration and decay. With some easy preventive measures, your teeth will stay strong and white for years to come.

Help your teeth stay healthy! Brush your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day!

When you were a child, your mother may have instructed you to drink all your milk to build strong bones. Now that you have children of your own, you may hear yourself parroting those instructions you received years ago. Getting enough dairy is essential for young children whose teeth are growing. A child who consumes the recommended daily serving of dairy will develop healthy, strong teeth for the rest of his or her life.

Structure of the Tooth
To fully grasp the importance of dairy for dental health, it is necessary to understand tooth structure. Your teeth are made of living tissues covered by a hard outer shell. The inner dental pulp is fed by blood vessels and connects to a nerve bed in your gums. Surrounding the pulp is dentine, a calcified tissue that is less brittle than the tooth’s outermost layer, the enamel. The enamel layer is the white part of your teeth, 96% of which consists of minerals such as calcium phosphate.

How Does Dairy Help My Child’s Teeth?
Milk and other dairy products are excellent sources of calcium. Your child’s body deposits this calcium into her growing bones, including the teeth. Calcium contributes to bone growth and strength, and it forms an important part of the solid enamel that surrounds each tooth’s fragile inner pulp.

Milk also contains vitamin D, phosphorus, magnesium, and proteins. Magnesium promotes calcium deposits in your enamel, while phosphorus forms a small barrier against acidic foods that cause cavities. Vitamin D and protein are used by a child’s body to build bone tissue and maintain dental health.

How Much Dairy Does a Child Need?
According to a 2011 study conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut, the majority of Americans do not receive enough calcium. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that children under the age of eight should receive at least two and a half cups of dairy per day. Children older than eight need three full cups — the same as adult men and women. Supplying your child with nonfat milk to drink and yogurt to eat every day is a great way to increase dairy consumption.

Growing children who do not get enough dairy in their diets risk improper tooth development and other dental health problems. Drinking sugary beverages in place of milk causes cavities and tooth decay. As a parent, it is essential to monitor your child’s dairy consumption to ensure he or she grows healthy teeth to last a lifetime.