ORAL HABITS

Beauty of a child lies in the innocent smile given by the child. For a good smile of a child there should be a properly arranged undecayed good pearls like teeth without any defects. Oral habits a symptom with a deep-rooted psychological basis or may be the result of abnormal facial growth. Abnormal habits which may interfere with the regular pattern of facial growth must be differentiated from the desired normal habits that are a part of normal oro-pharyngeal function and thus plays an important role in cranio-facial growth and occlusal morphology. Efforts to discourage the habit may involve as little as a conversation between the dentist and the child or they may involve more complex appliance therapy. Since the Pedodontist is at an advantage in that he can see the child during the period that the habit is developing he gets the opportunity to examine the child before the determinal effects of the habit manifest itself as derangement in occlusion and unfavorable esthetics.