OT: Placing things in mouth

December 11, 2007

My son doesn't usually put things in his mouth, but today the teacher told me he

kept putting things in his mouth. We've changed from B12 injection to nasal over

a week ago and he started taking PhosCol for his liver. That's the only changes.

Is this usually yeast or what?

Thanks

Diane

SCD 10 weeks

December 12, 2007

Yes, it could be yeast. (See 2nd paragraph below.) But to offer you a thorough

answer:

My take on things in the mouth after many years experience with ASD:

If it just happened once or twice with sensory stimulating objects, just assume

it met his sensory needs and file the info away in case you see this behavior

again. (Particularly if he was bored or anxious when behavior occurred.) If it

continues to happen, and he's putting things in the mouth that he used to use

appropriately (or ignore), first look for illness or injury to mouth--trip to

dentist to look for pain from tooth/gum pain? Trip to Dr. to look for other

medical causes? strep? sore throat? (if he also has congestion, may indicate

drainage down back of throat).

My daughter would begin to rub her mouth against everything if she had strep,

and she had years of recurring strep. However, she also has had recurring

thrush--yeast in the mouth--and we believe this caused the mouth rubbing

behavior, too. We would increase her probiotics when we believed it was thrush.

No pediatrician she's had has ever bought into that anyone except a newborn baby

could get thrush, but, fancy that--we increase her probiotics (ignoring doctor's

recommendations) and she would always heal and rubbing behavior would

discontinue. (But that is why we say doctors are " practicing . . . " )

Once/If any medical reasons for mouthing are ruled out, it's time to seek an

OT's input for appropriate oral experiences that will address his individual

sensory needs. In the meantime, calmly take away all inappropriate objects he's

mouthing and replace with appropriate objects to mouth. (You may have to go to

an OT just to get appropriate mouthing objects--rubber tubing? Is he old enough

to chew gum and not swallow it? How about rawhide? Oops, that's what we do for

our doggie--but, hey, maybe I'm onto a marketing idea . . .)

For future, it's helpful to list your son's age with such questions.

Nannette, SCD 27 months for IBS

daughter, , 15yo, SCD 27 months for autism

December 12, 2007

Hi, Nannette,

Thank you for the thorough answer on mouthing. Unfortunately,there is

no SCD legal chewing gum.

I can certainly attest to the fact that age is not a barrier to

thrush. My 84-year-old father had it! I am a bit concerned about

everyone suddenly suspecting thrush, though. I was under the

impression that thrush in the mouth is always visible (maybe not in the

throat, though.) What is your experience with being able to actually

see it?

mom to -12

SCD 4/23/04

December 12, 2007

Thanks Nannette. Mouthing isn't something he normally has a problem with and he

is 8 years old, that's why I thought it might be yeast. However, I never thought

of teeth bothering him. At this age they are getting adult teeth. I'll have to

take a peek in his mouth. I haven't seen him mouthing except that one day.

Diane

Yes, it could be yeast. (See 2nd paragraph below.) But to offer you a thorough

answer:

.

December 12, 2007

In my experience -- and from what I have heard from many others, in

the case of many kids -- mouthing objects can be a sign of zinc

deficiency. When my son has done this a slight increase in zinc

stops the behavior.

Kim

>

> Yes, it could be yeast. (See 2nd paragraph below.) But to offer

you a thorough answer:

>

> My take on things in the mouth after many years experience with ASD:

> If it just happened once or twice with sensory stimulating objects,

just assume it met his sensory needs and file the info away in case

you see this behavior again. (Particularly if he was bored or

anxious when behavior occurred.) If it continues to happen, and he's

putting things in the mouth that he used to use appropriately (or

ignore), first look for illness or injury to mouth--trip to dentist

to look for pain from tooth/gum pain? Trip to Dr. to look for other

medical causes? strep? sore throat? (if he also has congestion, may

indicate drainage down back of throat).

>

> My daughter would begin to rub her mouth against everything if she

had strep, and she had years of recurring strep. However, she also

has had recurring thrush--yeast in the mouth--and we believe this

caused the mouth rubbing behavior, too. We would increase her

probiotics when we believed it was thrush. No pediatrician she's had

has ever bought into that anyone except a newborn baby could get

thrush, but, fancy that--we increase her probiotics (ignoring

doctor's recommendations) and she would always heal and rubbing

behavior would discontinue. (But that is why we say doctors

are " practicing . . . " )

>

> Once/If any medical reasons for mouthing are ruled out, it's time

to seek an OT's input for appropriate oral experiences that will

address his individual sensory needs. In the meantime, calmly take

away all inappropriate objects he's mouthing and replace with

appropriate objects to mouth. (You may have to go to an OT just to

get appropriate mouthing objects--rubber tubing? Is he old enough to

chew gum and not swallow it? How about rawhide? Oops, that's what

we do for our doggie--but, hey, maybe I'm onto a marketing idea . . .)

>

> For future, it's helpful to list your son's age with such

questions.

>

> Nannette, SCD 27 months for IBS

> daughter, , 15yo, SCD 27 months for autism

>

December 12, 2007

No, sadly, there is no SCD chewing gum. (But I never had to ask that question

with my daughter, as she instantly swallows anything put into her mouth, so no

gum for her!)

What's in silly putty . . . ? ;-)

Nannette, SCD 27 months for IBS

daughter, , 15yo, SCD 27 months for autism

December 12, 2007

I've seen the white patches in the mouth of a baby with thrush, but have never

been able to get 's mouth open wide enough to look for it. (Her

pediatrician can't even get this child's mouth open for a strep test, even given

1 nurse, those wooden sticks, 45 minutes and lots of patience.) Sometimes when

I suspect it, I think I see white stuff on her tongue, but I'm not 100% sure.

However, seeing as her acidophilus is healthy to use topically, I have backwards

diagnosed: When I suspect mouth yeast/thrush, I wait until she's asleep (she's

most cooperative then ;-) and use a clean makeup brush to brush the contents

of an acidophilus capsule on her lips, as well as wherever there's a rash around

her mouth from her constant rubbing. She wakes a little when I do it, and I see

her rubbing the powder in, and licking her lips, so that's how it gets on her

tongue. Each time I've done this, her mouth rubbing and rash were gone within 2

days.

Nannette, SCD 27 months for IBS

daughter, , 15yo, SCD 27 months for autism

December 12, 2007

Boy I wish I knew you two years ago...we had a major problem with this.. it

subsided at about age 5, but is still a problem. What kind of Zinc do you use.

thanks

Kim wrote: In my experience -- and from

what I have heard from many others, in