The World Health Organization considers malocclusions as the third most important public health problem just after caries and periodontal disease in that order of ideas, non-nutritional habits are considered as a risk factor in the formation of malocclusions.

Non-nutritive habits can be considered as acts of constant, regular, and automatic performance throughout experiences that the subject has no voluntary control and therefore can generate some satisfaction.

As a result, non-nutritive habits can modify the normal occlusion of the patient, as well the relationship between the maxilla and the mandible. There are three elements that influence the formation of malocclusions; time, strength and duration of the habit that can interfere with orofacial development and growth [1]. The habits that most commonly occur in patients between the ages of 6 and 12 are of mixed dentition: atypical swallowing, mouth breathing, tongue thrust, finger, lip, pacifier sucking, and onychophagia [2,3].

References

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1. Lima Illescas Miriam Veronica., et al. “Dental malocclusion and its relationship to harmful oral habits”. Revista Cubana de Estomatología 2 (2019): e1395.
2. Silva Mihiri and Manton David. “Oral habits--part 1: the dental effects and management of nutritive and non-nutritive sucking”. Journal of Dentistry for Children 3 (2014): 133-139.
3. Silva Mihiri and Manton David. “Oral habits--part 2: beyond nutritive and non-nutritive sucking”. Journal of Dentistry for Children 3 (2014): 140-146.
4. Mendoza Oropeza Laura., et al. “Prevalence of malocclusions associated with pernicious oral habits in a Mexican sample”. Revista Mexicana de Ortodoncia4 (2014): 216-223.
5. Elena MJM. “Frecuencia de maloclusiones y su asociación con hábitos perniciosos en una población de4 niños mexicanos de 6 a 12 años de edad”. Revista de la Asociación Dental Mexicana6 (2004): 209-214.
6. Bishara Samir E., et al. “Changes in the prevalence of nonnutritive sucking patterns in the first 8 years of life”. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 1 (2006): 31-36.