Many infants and young children calm themselves by sucking their thumbs. Thumb sucking that continues for years may cause a child to develop dental problems. Thumb-sucking can cause a child's teeth to become improperly aligned or push the teeth outward, sometime malforming the roof (upper palate) of the mouth. The longer thumb-sucking continues, the more likely it is that orthodontic treatment will be needed to correct any resulting dental problems. Make an appointment today for an evaluation if you suspect your child has these symptoms.