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Childhood is like being drunk. Everyone remembers what you did except you. Therefore, it becomes extremely important for parents to keep an eye on what their children are doing.
It is the time when kids starts developing certain Dental Habits and correcting them in the initial stages will surely be beneficial. Because if not taken care of at the age of 4-5 year, it can later affect your permanent or adult teeth. Taking care of such habits is no rocket science just efforts would suffice.
Thumb-sucking:
The most common of all the habits. It is a natural reflex which babies use to feel secure and it also helps them to feel relaxed. Therefore the parents should not worry if the behaviour is occasional. This could be a way of getting comfortable with the environment and feel secure. But if it extends beyond 5 years of age then the parents should surely visit a dentist.
If not treated in time, this can lead to mis-aligned teeth, speech problem, open bite ie. when upper and lower teeth don’t meet, chewing problems etc.
Tips to Help:
Tongue Thrusting:
Did you know that your tongue is the strongest muscle in your body? Therefore just imagine how major an impact can it cause to the palate and the teeth. If a child indulge in such habit then he/she is likely to face the orthodontic problem of not only having crooked teeth but this can also keep them from becoming normal. It can also cause speech problem.
Tips to Help:
Mouth Breathing:
It might sometimes happen that your child is suffering from some nasal obstruction, as a result he/she end up breathing through the mouth instead of nose. Your dentist is the only one who can diagnose and assess this habit during the regular check-up depending upon the gum condition.
You can come across children between 3-6 years in age who sleep with parted mouth but they are actually breathing through nose, in that case there is nothing to worry about.
Mouth breathing shows certain symptoms like red gums, bleeding gums or puffy gums. If this is the case then you should immediately consult an ENT specialist. Your paedodontist can certainly give your child an appliance to get it corrected.
Bruxism or Teeth Grinding:
Bruxism is also a common habit in children and is observed mostly at night when the child is sleeping (this can be because of the inner ear pressure) or concentrating.
Apart from the reasons mentioned above there can be some psychological reasons like family issues, new environment, study pressure etc. which is putting mental pressure.
Teeth Grinding can cause various problems such as:
Tips to Help:
Nail Biting:
When kids go through a lot of physical and emotional changes during adolescence, they indulge in such habit. This is experienced in slightly elder children and is picked up in stressful situations.
Consequences faced are:
There is no dedicated treatment plan for this. Parents need to make their child conscious and should encourage their child to discontinue this habit.
Dental wellness is usually the last on the list when parents think of their child’s health on and most of the times it happens that by the time you are aware or bring it to your notice it turns out to be a ‘Habit’.
Habits need to be changed with time as these can create a lot of difference in one’s personality and the way they carry themselves. Do not let Dental Habits harm you in any way.
By:-
Dr. Vrinda Sharma
Paedodontist, Clove Dental