Associations Between Nonnutritive Sucking Habits, Developing Malocclusion, and Various Feeding Practices in 3–6-Year-old Indian Urban Children: A Case–control Study

Background: Nutritive sucking and nonnutritive sucking (NNS) may affect the craniofacial development, differently. Aim and Objectives: We investigated associations between NNS habits (NNSHs), developing malocclusion, and various feeding practices in 3–6-year-old children. Methodology: A sample of 350 children 3–6-year-old from various preschools were selected for this case–control study (94 with NNSH and 256 without NNSH). NNSH (outcome) and feeding practices and developing malocclusions (exposures) were assessed using a structured study tool. Results: The prevalence of NNSH in 3–6-year-old children was 26.8%. The odds (95% [confidence interval (CI)]) of boys compared to girls having NNSH were 0.66 (0.4121–1.706) (P = 0.0290). The overall prevalence of developing malocclusion in 3–6-year-old children was 34.01% out of which open bite was most commonly reported with 12.57% followed by spacing 8.5%, increased overjet 6.8%, crowding 2.2%, posterior crossbite and rotation 1.4%, and overbite 1.14%. Breastfeeding was found to be the most commonly used mode of feeding reported by 53.42% of mothers. It was found that the odds (95% [CI]) of subjects having NNSH were 0.66 (0.4694–0.9460) (P < 0.0001) who were not breastfed as compared to those who were breastfed. Among developing malocclusions, increased overjet with P = 0.0019, open bite with P = 0.0416, and spacing with P = 0.0243 were found to be associated with feeding practices. Conclusion: The prevalence of NNSH and developing malocclusions (increased overjet, open bite, and spacing) was 26.8% and 34.01%, respectively. Breastfeeding played a protective role against developing NNSH.