Guide to Oral Fixations: What They Are and How to Stop Them

Have you noticed your child chewing on their pencil or the collar of their shirt? Perhaps they’re biting their nails to relieve stress? If so, you’re not alone. Oral fixation habits such as sucking fingers, biting nails, and chewing on objects or clothing are common in young children.

What is an Oral Fixation?

An oral fixation is a repetitive habit involving the tongue, lip, or teeth that provide comfort or relief. These habits are often driven by oral seeking, a biological impulse which is common in infants and babies. Young children partake in these behaviors to explore the world, develop fine motor skills, and provide self-soothing.  

Why are these habits concerning?

While oral sensory behavior can be common in young children, these habits become more concerning when they continue past the toddler years. Other signs that oral fixations are becoming problematic include:

• Emotional resistance and frustration when child tries to stop their habit
• The child demonstrates excessive reliance on the oral fixation when they are tired, stressed, or anxious
• Impacts on sleep, eating, learning, and play
• Increasing health issues such as skin irritation, infection, tooth or jaw pain

Common Types of Oral Fixations

Thumb and Finger Sucking

Thumb and finger sucking are some of the most common oral fixations that occur as young children try to self-soothe, reduce stress, and find a sense of security. These habits are common for infants and toddlers but when they persist past the age of four can cause oral and dental issues, skin irritation, and speech delays.

Nail Biting

Another common oral sensory habit for children and adults alike is nail biting. Like thumb and finger sucking, this behavior occurs as a way to relieve stress, reduce anxiety, or out of boredom. Nail biting can lead to nail, cuticle, and skin damage as well as increased exposure to germs.

Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Teeth grinding or bruxism involves clenching or grinding the teeth together, often subconsciously or during sleep. Children may engage in this behavior in response to stress or anxiety or to alleviate discomfort as new teeth grow in. If bruxism persists it can wear down the enamel on teeth, cause jaw pain and headaches, and disrupt sleep.

Chewing on Objects and Clothing

Children may also chew on their clothing or objects such as toys, pencils, or blankets to find comfort, self soothe, alleviate boredom, or as part of a natural oral sensory seeking behavior. This behavior is common in young children but may present a choking hazard, cause dental damage, or reinforce other, less healthy oral sensory behaviors.

It’s common for these behaviors to occur together rather than in isolation. For example, a child who sucks their thumb may also chew on clothing, bite their nails, or grind their teeth at night. These habits often cluster because they serve similar purposes—providing comfort, relieving stress, or meeting sensory needs. Recognizing that oral fixations can overlap helps parents address the underlying triggers and apply strategies, like positive reinforcement or sensory substitutes, that can reduce multiple habits at once.

Methods to Stop Oral Fixations

Helping your child effectively overcome their oral fixation often requires a mix of positive reinforcement, gentle deterrents, supportive communication, and alternative coping mechanisms. By combining these methods, parents can target the underlying triggers and present healthier behaviors, effectively ending oral fixations.

Positive Reinforcement

Praise and encouragement are the foundation of effectively handling oral fixations. Many parents find it helpful to use tools like reward charts and small prizes to reduce the frequency of the habit.

Adjustments to Routine and Environment

Identifying and remedying the situations that can trigger oral fixations is an excellent way to interrupt the events that prompt bad habits. Children may find it helpful to have consistent routines around bedtime, mealtime, outings, and playing. Additionally, it can be helpful to present children with calming practices such as squeezing a stress toy, breathing mindfully, doing something creative, or reading a book.

Substitution Techniques

Providing children comforting alternatives such as stress and fidget toys can be useful while weaning a child off their habit. These methods are best used for a short time while deterrent devices and positive reinforcement are employed.

Deterrent Devices

For more entrenched habits, a gentle physical barrier like a thumb guard can be helpful in dissuading oral fixations. TGuard’s AeroThumb and AeroFinger are constructed with a soft, medical-grade plastic that encases the thumb or finger and interrupts the sensation that causes habits to persist. The right device can also reduce a child’s other oral fixations by breaking the habit reinforcement loop and encouraging healthier alternative behaviors.

When should I seek professional help for my child’s oral fixation?

Many oral fixations are a normal part of childhood and naturally subside with age and proper methods, however in some cases extra support is needed. If habits persist past the age of four, impact jaw and teeth development, begin to cluster with other behaviors, cause significant stress or social impacts, or home interventions are unsuccessful, consulting a medical professional can be helpful.

Take the Next Step: Treat Your Child’s Oral Fixation Today

Breaking oral fixations can be challenging, but the right device can help. TGuard devices are designed to gently discourage thumb and finger sucking while supporting healthy teeth and jaw development. Safe, comfortable, and easy to use, TGuard gives children and parents the support to overcome oral fixations.