What are the effects of oral habits on the growth of children?
Various oral habits like thumb sucking, lip biting, tongue thrusting etc can interfere with the normal growth pattern of the facial bones thus leading to teeth crowding & improper facial structure.
Thumb sucking is perfectly natural and normal. Intervention for a very young child is not necessary. However, when a child still has the habit anywhere from the age to 4-6, it may be time to intervene.
Prolonged thumb sucking habit can result in both narrowing of the upper jaw or maxilla as noted before. Further, a downward growth of the mandible can result in an unattractive lengthening of the face. Thumb sucking can also affect your child's speech resulting in a lisp and the incorrect articulation of certain words requiring the tongue and teeth to come together.
What are the effects of lip sucking or lip biting on children?
Lip sucking and lip biting can procline the maxillary incisors, retrocline the mandibular incisors means can push the lower front teeth towards tongue and increase the amount of over jet.
What are the ill effects of habits like tongue thrusting or mouth breathing?
Tongue thrusting and mouth-breathing may also play a part in the creation of a malocclusion. An anterior open bite is the most common dental problem associated with these anomalies.
If positive reinforcement and encouragement do not work to break these habits, habit breaking appliances are required. Dentist will study the severity of the problem & dispense suitable habit breaking appliances.
When are habit breaking appliances are given to children?
If positive reinforcement and encouragement do not work to break these habits, habit breaking appliances are required. Dentist will study the severity of the problem & dispense suitable habit breaking appliances.
