Why Does My Child Eat Pencils?

If you have a child who is constantly sucking on their shirts or clothing, chews on their pencils at school, enjoys extreme flavors of foods, or is constantly chewing on their toys, it could be a sign that their sensory receptors are in need of that tactile sensation in their mouth and are using it as a defense

Why do children chew their pencils?

Some children with sensory processing disorder and/or autism will continue to chew things well past the age of two. You may see the child chewing on clothing items such as their collar or sleeves. They may also chew other items such as, hair, pencils, toys or whatever they can get their hands on.

How do I get my kid to stop chewing on pencils?

In cases that become problematic, you can try to have the student replace the chewing behavior by giving them something to chew on that is more appropriate. Some people have had success using gum, others may use a water bottle with a bite valve, and others may use a chewable pencil topper.

What does it mean if you chew on pencils?

A recent study by the National Institute of Health indicates that people who chew on pens or pencils do so as means of relief from tension headaches or jaw pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Biting on the pencil puts the jaw into a more comfortable position, thus, relieving pain.

Is chewing pencils normal?

In addition to nail biting, smoking or constantly tapping your foot, pencil chewing is a common nervous habit among both children and adults. And, just like those other nervous habits, chewing pencils can have serious repercussions on your oral health, as well as your image.

How do I stop sensory chewing?

10 Tips for Kids Who Need to Chew – An Oral Sensory Diet

1. DON’T FORCE THEM TO STOP. It’s not that they WANT to chew.
2. GIVE THEM A SAFE OUTLET TO CHEW ON.
3. GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHY.
4. FOLLOW A SENSORY DIET.
5. DO GUM MASSAGE.
6. ADD HARDER-TO-CHEW FOODS TO THE DIET.
7. INCORPORATE OTHER ORAL ACTIVITIES INTO THE DAILY ROUTINE.
8. USE VIBRATION.

How do I get my 7 year old to stop chewing on everything?

5 Tips to Help Kids Who Chew on Everything

1. Try to figure out why they are chewing.
2. Provide increased opportunities for “heavy work” input to the whole body each day.
3. Provide opportunities for increase proprioceptive input to the mouth by eating crunchy and chewy foods and drinking through straws.

How do I stop chewing my pencil?

“My best advice for people who chew on their pens and pencils is to try chewing on sugar-free gum instead. Carry a pack of gum around with you and pop a piece into your mouth whenever you start to put a pen to your mouth.”

What causes oral sensory issues?

Both oral-motor and oral-sensory problems are caused by problems with nerves. Adults may develop these kinds of feeding problems after a stroke or head trauma. When children develop oral-motor and oral-sensory problems, the cause is less clear.

Why do toddlers chew on their fingers?

By the age of 3, children have typically completed the teething stage. This is when they chew on objects or fingers to mitigate the pain they’re feeling as teeth break the surface of their gums.

Is graphite in pencils toxic?

Graphite and other components of a pencil are minimally toxic when swallowed or drawn onto the skin. If a pencil tip breaks or punctures the skin, contact IPC at 1-800-222-1222 or the child’s pediatrician for medical advice regarding the puncture injury.

How do I get my autistic child to stop chewing?

Praise Incompatible Behaviors

1. Having a snack.
2. Blowing bubbles.
3. Chewing gum (if your child is able to chew gum safely)
4. Praise your child with Autism for biting an appropriate object.

Can you get lead poisoning from chewing a pencil?

Bonus Fact: In the past, people may have gotten lead poisoning from pencils, but it was the paint, not the graphite, that did it. Lead was outlawed in the United States as an ingredient in paint in 1978. If someone chewed a pencil before this ban went into effect, he could have been exposed to lead.

Do pencils actually contain lead?

This may come as a shock to some people but lead pencils do not contain any lead. Never did. The “lead” actually is a mixture of graphite and clay; the more graphite, the softer and darker the point.

Is colored pencil lead toxic?

The lead in colored art pencils is a pigment instead of graphite, held together by wax, oil, or resin. These pigments are chemicals that are generally considered non-toxic in pencil amounts. Colored pencils might stain the mouth or skin, but that is harmless and will wear off by itself.

What causes Dermatophagia?

It is not clear why some people develop dermatophagia. According to the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, both genetic and social factors may have a role. According to the National Institute of Mental Health , people with OCD may be more likely to have family members that also have OCD.

What is a sensory diet?

A sensory diet is a group of activities that are specifically scheduled into a child’s day to assist with attention, arousal and adaptive responses. The activities are chosen for that child’s needs based on sensory integration theory.

What are symptoms of sensory processing disorder?

Symptoms of sensory processing disorder

• Think clothing feels too scratchy or itchy.
• Think lights seem too bright.
• Think sounds seem too loud.
• Think soft touches feel too hard.
• Experience food textures make them gag.
• Have poor balance or seem clumsy.
• Are afraid to play on the swings.

What is mouthing in autism?

Children with sensory processing difficulties can put things in their mouth or chew when they are overloaded too. Chewing is also seen in children with autism and sensory issues. Sensory overload occurs when the child or adult has experienced too much sensory input from their environment.

Why does my 9 year old chew everything?

Why kids chew
Some of reasons for chewing may include anxiety, stress, sensory issues, boredom and general habit. “The brain is wired such that the mouth is an important place for interacting with the world, and chewing is a form of that,” says Dr.

Why is my 5 year old chewing his shirt?

Some kids chew on a shirt as a fidgeting behavior. They want some sensory input, and the shirt they’re wearing is simply the easiest and closest thing to play with. Children fidget to help them pay attention because they’re anxious, bored, or other reasons similar to why adults sometimes fidget.