Tongue, breathing and habitsQuestion before treatment

What is the latest age my child should stop using a dummy or sucking their finger so it doesn't affect their jaws?

Answered byDr Ivelina Ivanova-Koycheva, Orthodontist (MSc)Master's degrees in orthodontics in Rome and in aligner treatment in Turin, international lecturerPublished on 12 November 2026

Using a dummy with a shape approved by paediatricians is normal and doesn't cause the jaws to become misshapen in the first two years of life. Once all the baby teeth have come through, at around 2.5 years, dummy use should stop. Sometimes children make up for the missing dummy by sucking their thumb, but the shape of the thumb has a much more negative effect on jaw growth, so you need to be careful this doesn't happen. If necessary, it is better to let your child use the dummy for longer than to have them replace it with a finger or another object.

This answer is for general information. Your own case needs an examination by an orthodontist.