Oral Aversion & Oral Fixation Help

Whether they’re sucking their thumbs, chewing on toys, or even biting their siblings, babies and toddlers are known for putting things in their mouths. They do this to explore the world around them, express big feelings they can’t verbalize, and self-soothe when they’re anxious. It’s a perfectly natural, normal developmental stage that all babies go through, and most will grow out of it as they get older. However, some babies and toddlers will develop an oral fixation, or an obsessive craving to use their mouths, that persists into childhood. 

Examples of oral fixation behaviors include:

• Thumb sucking.
• Biting or chewing their lips, inner cheeks or fingers.
• Chewing or sucking their hair.
• Biting their nails.
• Grinding their teeth.
• Licking, sucking or chewing non-food objects.
• Refusing to part with their pacifier or bottle.
• Biting people.

An oral fixation is an example of a self-stimulating or “stimming” behavior. It’s instinctual for infants, who are driven by biological survival reflexes to seek out and put things in their mouths. Satisfying this instinct feels calming, soothing and pleasurable to them, and so they learn to associate this feeling with the sensory input (putting something in the mouth). They can therefore learn to seek out this sensation whenever they need to self-soothe or regulate emotions like anxiety, fear, or boredom. 

As a child matures, they learn new ways to communicate and regulate their emotions. They can use their words to tell their grown-ups what they need, learn new ways to cope with big feelings, and use their advanced motor skills to interact with their environment in new and exciting ways. At this time, oral behaviors tend to become less common. However, if children struggle to develop these skills, they can fall back on familiar oral fixations to meet their needs instead. This is especially common in children with developmental delays, but any child experiencing stress or anxiety may revert to oral fixations from time to time. 

Oral fixation habits that persist into early childhood can put your child at risk of various issues. Immediate concerns include choking hazards and the risk of infection from putting potentially contaminated items in their mouth. Longer-term, oral fixation is associated with: 

• Crooked teeth that need orthodontic treatment.
• Excessive drooling. 
• Spacing issues for the permanent teeth.
• Speech impediments.
• Problems with jaw development.
• Oral hygiene difficulties.
• Difficulties with verbal expression and communication.
• Picky eating.
• Separation anxiety.
• Developmentally immature behaviors, e.g. tantrums.

There’s no reliable way to prevent your child from developing an oral fixation. Some experts advise weaning your child from pacifiers and bottles as early as possible to avoid them from developing a prolonged dependence. You can also be vigilant about spotting potential fixations early on. For example, if you notice your toddler has a tendency to chew on their hair, you can redirect the behavior whenever you see it to prevent it becoming established. Because oral fixation can be a self-soothing behavior, it may also help to proactively explore developmentally appropriate ways to help your toddler communicate and express emotions in a healthy way. 

Biting, chewing and sucking behaviors are a normal part of childhood development and children typically outgrow their oral fixation in their toddler years. However, if you’re concerned with your child’s oral fixation, try to identify the triggers in their environment that lead to stimming and work to reduce the patterns that lead to the behavior.

Chewy foods are positive ways to redirect an oral fixation. Consider healthy snacks like:

• Popcorn.
• Celery.
• String cheese.
• Rice cakes.
• Thick smoothies.

Oral exploration and fixation is a normal part of child development, but it can cause your child long-lasting problems if it continues beyond the toddler years. If you have concerns about your child’s sensory behavior and oral fixation, seek professional assistance. Pediatricians, speech pathologists and occupational therapists are equipped with many resources to address any problematic behavior stemming from oral fixation.

Oral Care Center articles are reviewed by an oral health medical professional. This information is for educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist, physician or other qualified healthcare provider.