Other dental problems – What are oral habits?
A. Oral habits are abnormal, frequently repeated, developed actions that are related to your child’s mouth. Habits are difficult to stop and can be associating with dental problems. Oral habits include but are not limited to: 1. Prolonged pacifier use / thumb sucking: Sucking is a natural reflex and infants and young children may use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other objects on which to suck. It may make them feel secure and happy, or provide a sense of security at difficult periods. Since thumb sucking is relaxing, it may induce sleep. Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth can cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and tooth alignment. How intensely a child sucks on fingers or thumbs will determine whether or not dental problems may result. Children who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs. Children should cease thumb sucking by the time their permanent
