I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I didn’t notice any issues until way later. I sucked my thumb for years and thought it was harmless, but my bite slowly shifted without any pain or obvious signs. By the time I realized, it was already a bit of a mess. Sometimes you don’t feel anything until it’s too late, so I’d say it can be sneaky even if you’re not waking up sore. Bodies really do their own thing...
- Totally agree, it’s sneaky.
- Didn’t think my teeth were shifting either until I saw old photos—my bite looked totally different after a few years.
- No pain, just slow changes.
- Guess it’s like tech issues... sometimes you don’t see the bug until it’s already messed stuff up.
- Not always obvious in the moment, but the long-term effects can be real.
No pain, just slow changes.
Did you ever actually have a dentist mention your bite was changing, or did you just notice it in photos? I get that it can sneak up, but I’ve sucked my thumb at night for years and haven’t seen anything drastic. Maybe it’s different for everyone? I’m curious if the long-term effects are always as serious as people say, especially if you’re gentle about it.
I actually had a dentist point out my bite was shifting a bit, but honestly, I only really noticed it when I started comparing old photos. It wasn’t super dramatic—just subtle changes over a few years. I think how much it affects you probably depends on how hard you suck your thumb and for how long each night. Have you ever tried stopping for a while to see if anything feels different with your teeth or jaw? Sometimes it’s such a slow process, you don’t realize until something feels off when you chew.
That’s interesting—I always thought my bite was the same until my partial denture started feeling weird. Turns out, tiny changes add up. I’ve never sucked my thumb, but I used to clench my jaw at night and didn’t notice until my teeth shifted a bit. Sometimes it’s those little habits we don’t even realize are doing anything… until they do.