ORAL HABITS AND THEIR IMPACT ON DEVELOPING DENTOFACIAL STRUCTURES: A CROSSSECTIONAL STUDY IN CHILDREN AGED 4–12

Background:Children’s oral habits such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, lip biting, and bruxism
can adversely affect dentofacial development. If these habits persist during the critical period of craniofacial growth,
they may lead to malocclusions and skeletal abnormalities, which can become irreversible during adolescence.
Objectives:To assess the prevalence of oral habits in children aged 4–12 years and to evaluate their association with
dentofacial anomalies.
Results:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 children. Clinical examinations were performed to record
occlusal and facial parameters, and parent-filled questionnaires documented the type, frequency, and duration of oral
habits. Statistical tests (Chi-square and logistic regression) were applied, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Oral
habits were observed in 62% of the children. Thumb sucking was the most common (28%), followed by mouth
breathing (20%), tongue thrusting (8%), lip biting (4%), and bruxism (2%). Mouth breathing showed a significant
association with posterior crossbite and long-face pattern, while thumb sucking was linked to increased overjet and
anterior open bite. Longer duration of habits was significantly associated with greater severity of abnormalities.
Conclusion:Destructive oral habits have a measurable impact on dentofacial development. Early identification and
timely intervention are crucial to preventing long-term malocclusions and ensuring proper craniofacial growth in
children.