When children put their fingers in their mouths. Should parents and dentists care?

N Y State Dent J. 1998 Feb;64(2):48-53.

Abstract

We have heard mothers tell their children not to stick their fingers in their mouths because they will get sick. Medical and dental professionals know this is true. Oral habits like thumb sucking and nail biting can damage the structure of the mouth and can lead to the spread of infectious diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Behavior*
  • Communicable Diseases / transmission
  • Dentist-Patient Relations
  • Fingers*
  • Fingersucking / adverse effects
  • Fingersucking / therapy
  • Gingival Diseases / etiology
  • Gingival Diseases / prevention & control
  • Habits*
  • Humans
  • Malocclusion / etiology
  • Malocclusion / prevention & control
  • Mouth Diseases / etiology*
  • Mouth Diseases / prevention & control
  • Nail Biting / adverse effects
  • Nail Biting / therapy
  • Opportunistic Infections / etiology
  • Orthodontic Appliances
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Periodontal Diseases / etiology
  • Periodontal Diseases / prevention & control
  • Self Mutilation / etiology
  • Self Mutilation / prevention & control
  • Tongue Habits / adverse effects
  • Tongue Habits / therapy
  • Tooth Diseases / etiology*
  • Tooth Diseases / prevention & control