Marija Borisovaitė, Kristina Lopatienė

Abstract

Purpose: To record the prevalence of oral breathing and other deleterious oral habits among preschool-age children. Methods: Parents of 334 preschool-age children were anonymously examined by giving the questionnaire to fill out. They were explained the purpose of the survey, a consent to use the information was received. Results: 334 children were analysed: the estimated average of age was 4,22 ± 1,31 years. 74.93% of children had some form of deleterious oral habit: 1 or 2 habits were observed 24,48% of children, 3 – 16,12%, 4 – 5,97%, 5 – 2,69%, 25,07% had no deleterious oral habits. 32,2% were mouth-breathers, 15,6% are bruxists, 15,2% bite their nails, cheeks and lips are chewing 7,5% and 4,8% suck their finger. Irregular posture observed in 20,2%, and poor articulation in 35,8% of children. Conclusions: 74,93% of children have some form of deleterious oral habit. Mouth-breathing is the most common and thumb sucking is the least common deleterious oral habit.

Keyword(s): children; preschool; oral deleterious habits; prevalence; malocclusion.
DOI: 10.5200/sm-hs.2016.018
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