Why is sucking your thumb so addictive?

Answer 1

Depending on your sucking style, that is, the angle of your thumb, the length of time sucking per day, the intensity, and length of time for your habit in years, you may or may not have any affects. The worst case scenario for active, intense thumb suckers is an open bite where the top and lower teeth do not overlap in the resting, postural position and/or some overjet, otherwise called "buckteeth". The best case scenario is no dental affects and a very calm disposition because thumb sucking has been proven to reduce tension and to even raise the levels of dopamine, a natural, body produced hormone, that elicits good internal feelings. The great majority of thumb suckers have no to minimal dental affects.

Answer 2

Newborns suck their thumbs as part of the suckle (sucking) reflex. If a baby cannot suck, it cannot get nourishment and without medical intervention, the baby would die. As a newborn ages, a baby sucks because hand-mouth exploration is one of the primary ways babies explore their world and learn. Babies may even try to suck their toes! As babies learn to scoot, then crawl, then stand and walk, they ignore their toes for sucking but still return to their thumb when hungry, tired, frustrated, or need self-comforting. Now, they don't need the suckle-reflex but sucking the thumb lingers because it is comforting. By 2-3 years old, toddlers typically stop sucking their thumbs, but many still do until pre-pre-school at age 4. Still many 4-year olds return to the thumb when very stressed. Children who persist in thumb-sucking may need adults to help them to stop. However, many kids still periodically suck a thumb once in a while even up to age 8-9 years old. But by then, kids realize their friends will make fun of them. Between social milestones and peer pressure along with parental guidance, most kids stop thumb-sucking without problem before age 4. If you are in grade school and still suck your thumb sometimes, try putting a band-aid around the thumb as a reminder to stop. Kids who suck thumbs beyond age 4 can mess up the alignment of their teeth, pushing the top teeth forward like Bugs Bunny. This often requires braces later to correct tooth alignment. So whatever you can do now to stop will help you in the long run.

Answer 3

because its the best way to relax. the thumb tastes so good and make a best feeling to calm down when you a stressed.

i love my thumb and i suck it every day.