I’m 15, and I still suck my thumb when I’m trying to sleep. It really helps me relax, especially after a long day at school.
I feel like I earn that little bit of comfort I get from it.
I feel like I earn that little bit of comfort I get from it.
Honestly, I get the comfort thing—life’s stressful enough. But I gotta say, thumb sucking at 15 can start messing with your teeth and jaw. I had a friend who kept it up through high school and ended up needing braces (again) because his bite shifted. Not saying you have to quit cold turkey, but maybe try swapping in something less risky for your teeth? Just a thought...
Yeah, I totally get wanting that comfort, especially when everything else is chaos. But now I’m wondering—has anyone here actually tried switching to like, a fidget gadget or something at night? Not sure if it’d hit the same, but maybe worth a shot...
Thank you @chef659159 @jenniferblizzard109.
I really don't want braces but I don't feel ready to quit cold turkey either because of how addictive it is.
Switching is hard because I can't play with a fidget gadget when I'm sleeping but I can still suck my thumb when i got to bed and do it throughout the night.
Do you think sucking my thumb before bed and then wearing a sock on my hand might help? Would that still be bad for my teeth, or could it be a compromise?
I totally get what you mean about fidget gadgets not really working when you’re half-asleep. I tried wearing a sock over my hand for a few nights, but honestly, I just ended up pulling it off in my sleep without even realizing. It did make me pause before starting though, which was weirdly helpful? My dentist said even a little thumb sucking can affect teeth alignment if it’s regular, but the comfort thing is real. I wish there was a perfect middle ground—it’s just tough to break habits that help you feel safe.
