Health Tip: Thumb Sucking Can Cause Long-Term Problems

(HealthDay News) -- Most people do not have naturally straight teeth.

While heredity and environmental factors can affect the position of teeth, thumb sucking can make the problem even worse.

Especially after age 7, thumb sucking can affect not only the teeth, but the shape of the jaw, experts tell the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Braces and other orthodontic appliances may be needed to straighten out the problem, the agency says.