Abstract
AimOral habits during and beyond preschool age are one of the important etiological factors in developing malocclusion and other ill effects on orofacial structures. The objective of the present study was to know the prevalence of deleterious oral habits among 3- to 5-year-old preschool children in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among preschool children, in the age group of 3 to 5 years in the city of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. To carry out this study, six private schools, two from each of the three electoral constituency, were selected using cluster sampling technique. A total of 500 students, studying in LKG and UKG and their respective mothers/caregivers were selected for the study as per the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Prevalence of different oral habits in children was calculated from the data obtained. Using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 17.0 software, Chi-square test was applied to compare the differences present between boys and girls and their significant values (p < 0.05).ResultsThe result of this study showed a high prevalence of oral habits (36%) among preschool children in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Lip biting was found to be the most prevalent habit (13.4%), followed closely by thumb sucking (12.8%), bruxism (12.8%), and mouth breathing (11%).ConclusionThe study revealed a great dearth of a well-established dental education program for preschool children as well as their parents, caretakers, teachers, and pediatricians in order to provide an effective and timely care to the children.How to cite this article: Dhull KS, Verma T, Dutta B. Prevalence of Deleterious Oral Habits among 3- to 5-year-old Preschool Children in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;11(3):210-213.
Highlights
Habits are acquired automatisms, represented by an altered pattern of muscle contraction with complex characteristics, which proceed unconsciously and on a regular basis.[1]
The result of this study showed a high prevalence of oral habits (36%) among preschool children in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
The study revealed a great dearth of a wellestablished dental education program for preschool children as well as their parents, caretakers, teachers, and pediatricians in order to provide an effective and timely care to the children
Summary
Habits are acquired automatisms, represented by an altered pattern of muscle contraction with complex characteristics, which proceed unconsciously and on a regular basis.[1] Repetitive behavior of habits is common in infantile period and most of them are started and stopped spontaneously. One of the most common and earliest repetitive behaviors seen in infantile period is digit sucking.[2] The reflex of sucking appears in intrauterine life, around 29 weeks,[3] and disappears during normal growth between the ages 1 and 31⁄2 years. An oral habit in infancy and early childhood is normal, and it is considered abnormal over 3 years of age.[3] Oral habits could be functional or parafunctional. Functional habits result from repeating a normal function, such as nasal breathing, chewing, phonoarticulation, and swallowing, while the parafunctional habits are acquired by practicing a nonfunctional or unnecessary action, such as thumb or lip sucking, bruxism, mouth breathing, and tongue thrusting.[4,5] The persistence of deleterious parafunctional oral habits have little effect on child health, but play a significant role in altering the position of the teeth, the inter-arch relationship, interfering with the normal growth of the jaws, and the function of the orofacial musculature.[6,7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
