Çocuklarda Kötü Ağız Alışkanlıkları ve Tedavi Yöntemleri

A balance exists among the muscles in the head, neck, and oral region, which can be disrupted due to abnormal oral habits that may cause anomalies in the jaw skeletal system and occlusions, especially in children with continuing growth development. Cessation of poor oral habits before the age of 4 years can reduce the risk of developing malocclusions. Appropriate management of poor oral habits, which can otherwise cause malocclusions, is an important task for pediatric dentists. Methods such as behavioral orientation of the child, educating on the consequences of poor oral habits, and rewarding are often useful in helping the child quit such poor habits. However, occasionally, the child may resist on giving up these habits. In such cases, intraoral and extraoral appliances can be used. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness against malocclusions that may occur due to poor oral habits and their treatment approaches to parents, society, pediatricians, and pediatric dentists.