By Gabrielle Pluta, RDH and Allison Castro, MPH, RDH
Non-nutritive sucking in children is a common habit used to calm and comfort that can, in certain instances, result in long-term or irreversible craniofacial abnormalities. Feeding habits, such as breastfeeding and bottle sucking, are nutritive sucking habits, while thumb or digit sucking, pacifier use, and sucking on toys or blankets are non-nutritive sucking habits (NNSH).
The impact of prolonged NNSH can adversely affect palatal, facial, and speech development; occlusion; and oronasopharyngeal structure and function.3 NNSH may disrupt regular respiratory patterns and result in palatal defects due to the repetitive pressure on the developing palatine bone. Understanding why certain NNSH occur and how best to provide oral hygiene instruction for parents/​caregivers to prevent negative oral health effects is key to successful patient outcomes.
* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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