Journal and Conferences of Dentistry

Suckling is a reflex occurring in the oral stage of development and disappears during normal growth between the ages 1 and 3 ½ years. It is the first coordinated muscular activity of the infant, which helps in breast-feeding. In the newborn, i.e., gum pad stage of development there is open bite, and the tongue is relativelylarge and is positioned forward during normal suckling.     Non-Nutritive Sucking Habits   The tip of the tongue actually takes part in the anterior lip seal. This is normal for infants and is termed as infantile or visceral swallowing. With eruption of incisors at approximately six months of age, the tongue position starts to retract from the anterior gum pads, shifting to adult or somatic swallowing. Read More>>>>

Suckling is a reflex occurring in the oral stage of development and disappears during normal growth between the ages 1 and 3 ½ years. It is the first coordinated muscular activity of the infant, which helps in breast-feeding.  In the newborn, i.e., gum pad stage of development there is open bite, and the tongue is relatively large and is positioned forward during normal suckling. The tip of the tongue actually takes part in the anterior lip seal. This is normal for infants and is termed as infantile or visceral swallowing. With eruption of incisors at approximately six months of age, the tongue position starts to retract from the anterior gum pads, shifting to adult or somatic swallowing. Types of Sucking • There are two forms of sucking. • Nutritive form: • It provides essential nutrients. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>