7 yr old puts everything in his mouth. wtd?

amother

OP ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 3:20 pm

he's in OT and it's not helping. his hands, peyos and any toy or little thing he finds goes straight into his mouth.
what can be the cause? what can I do? it's germs and a choking hazard and ew.

amother

Tiffanyblue

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 3:24 pm

Have you discussed it with his ot? That is something they should be supporting your ds with. It is common enough for some children to crave oral sensation or input.
You can also look into chewy toys that can give him oral input. These can be worn round the neck and used when he is craving oral input. A vibrating toothbrush around his mouth can also support his craving for oral sensation. But this is all basic things that his ot should be supporting you with. If the ot has no idea, then you should be looking for a new ot.

amother

Dustypink ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 3:24 pm

Treat for strep, yeast and parasites

Is he a mouth breather?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 3:30 pm

Yes his OT knows but isn't helping, and it's been a while.
no, he's not a mouth breather.

how do I test for yeast and parasites?

amother

↑ Dustypink ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 3:34 pm

amother OP wrote:

Yes his OT knows but isn't helping, and it's been a while.
no, he's not a mouth breather.

how do I test for yeast and parasites?

Sleeps with mouth closed? Any snoring?

Most tests aren't sensitive enough to pick up yeast and parasites in the gut. I would just treat with something like bioray happy or paragard from zahlers

amother

Lemonchiffon

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 7:22 pm

I put everything in my mouth as a kid in elementary school I biy my pen and chewed on the plastic table cloth. I wasnt the only one that ripped the tablecloth. As an adult I chew on gum all day. My son chewed his clothing tzitis and payos. I don't try to correct just educate him on why he's not allowed to chew on his clothes. I let him chew on his tzitis string from an old pair of tzitis. Bit not from clothing he's currently wearing. Keeping his mouth busy, he doesn't put anything else in his mouth.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 8:40 pm

he wont wear a necklace. he finds it exciting to put all odd things in his mouth.

amother

↑ Dustypink ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 8:52 pm

amother OP wrote:

he wont wear a necklace. he finds it exciting to put all odd things in his mouth.

Is it pica-like? That could be iron deficiency or another mineral imbalance

amother

Tanzanite

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 9:03 pm

amother OP wrote:

he wont wear a necklace. he finds it exciting to put all odd things in his mouth.

I did it for my son at 5 yrs old
he only wore it at home
I told him it was to help him get used to not chewing stuff and if I see him chewing ill say 'necklace' I found it helped him over a few days. he really got out of the habit.
heres the link to what I bought
https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod.....psc=1

amother

Dill

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 9:08 pm

Has he had the full battery of testing? Does he have a dx? This is common with some diagnoses.

amother

↑ OP

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 9:10 pm

he had lyme but not anymore. we never treated it because we didn't know at the time. could it be that?

amother

Ecru

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 10:16 pm

amother OP wrote:

he had lyme but not anymore. we never treated it because we didn't know at the time. could it be that?

Yes can be a flair up
Do thorough bloodwork, including vitamin panel and treat whatever comes up

amother

↑ Dustypink

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 10:17 pm

amother OP wrote:

he had lyme but not anymore. we never treated it because we didn't know at the time. could it be that?

Oh yeah absolutely you should treat that. I'm guessing your child has a lot more going on than just the mouthing and lyme is probably a big player here.