Oral habits are very common among children and cause concern in families because they can lead to various dental problems. Oral habits are considered normal up to the age of 3.
The effects of these habits depend on 3 factors:
1. Severity
2. Duration
3. Frequency
While all these factors are influential, duration is the most effective factor for tooth movement. Many studies have stated that a force needs to act for 4-6 hours to cause tooth movement.
Oral Habits can be classified as:
1. Thumb sucking,
2. Pacifier use,
3. Lip habits,
4. Tongue thrusting or mouth breathing,
5. Nail biting.