Find our exactly what oral sensory processing is, indicators that your child has oral sensory needs, and oral sensory diet activities to help improve it! This post is sponsored by Chewigem USA
I want to take a minute to thank today’s sponsor, Chewigem USA. Chewigem USA provides a wide assortment of quality and safe chewy jewelry, which is perfect for oral sensory processing. So many kids with oral needs benefit from quick access to something to chew on. One of the easiest ways to do that is to have your child wear an inconspicuous piece of jewelry so they can fill that need to chew!
One last note before I get started. I’m assuming some baseline knowledge about sensory processing in this post, if this is all new to you, or if I use some sensory terms you aren’t familiar with, be sure to check out my Sensory Basics page where I cover all that information.
What You Really Need to Know About Oral Sensory
There are three sensory systems that all receive input in the oral cavity or mouth:
- Tactile (touch) – Orally, the tactile sense receives input when anything touches the lips, tongue, gums, and cheek. The tongue in particular has a lot of tactile receptors to give feedback on the way something feels or it’s temperature.
- Proprioception (deep pressure) – The jaws can provide a ton of deep pressure input. Chewing and sucking gives lots of input to this sensory system.
- Taste – The tongue has tons of receptors that allow it to taste various flavors such as sweet, salty, sour, and spicy.
Talk about a trifecta! No wonder so many kids have something oral going on! Since oral sensory processing is affected by three senses, your child could be over, under, or not processing any one or all of these sensory systems. Again, this will be a unique combination for your child. For example, my son under-processes or seeks oral proprioceptive input, over-processes or avoids oral tactile input, and seems to fall somewhere in the middle range on taste with a slight preference to spicy and bold flavors. Now that we have cleared up exactly what oral sensory processing is, I will proceed by just using the term “oral”, knowing that you know it is really a combination of any of the individual senses that make it up!
One last note, eating is one of the most common areas affected by difficulty processing oral sensory input. If you have been here before, then you know I have written extensively about kids and eating. You can find tons of information on “picky eating” by heading to Picky Eating and Sensory Processing, as well as How to Turn Picky Eating Around.
Click here and here to dive even deeper into understanding more about oral sensory processing.
Oral Sensory Behaviors
There are some tell tale signs that your child is seeking, avoiding, or not registering oral input. I have organized these behaviors below into these categories, however this is just a guideline. Some of the behaviors in this list may be indicative of other causes, especially when seen in isolation.
Under-Processing or Seeking
- Excessive or frequent Licking of various or random objects
- Excessive or frequent Chewing of non-food objects like shirt sleeves, bed sheets, wood, paper, crayons, pencils, toys
- Biting toys or people, especially when unprovoked or when overly excited
- Chews on inside of cheeks
- Bites or sucks in lip frequently
- Mouth or suck on various objects, pacifiers, or toys (Check out if your child needs to wean from the pacifier and if so, how to do it!)
- Loves very spicy, salty, or sweet foods
- Bites nails
- Prefers crunchy foods
Over-Processing or Avoiding
- Gags at the taste or sight of certain textures
- Dislikes brushing teeth
- Prefers specific texture of foods, either crunchy or soft
- Loves bland foods with little or no flavor
- Prefers foods smaller in size
- Avoids messy or mixed textures of food
Low registration
- Seems to have difficulty chewing various foods
- Difficulty using a straw (*This is also commonly associated with poor oral-motor skills, which refers to coordination and strength of mouth movements)
- Drools and spits frequently
- Frequently spits food out of mouth while eating
- Food seems to accidentally fall out of mouth
- Loses track of food in mouth and as a result, will gag/choke on foods (*This gagging is different than I listed under over-processing. In this case, gagging doesn’t happen instantly, but after the food is in mouth. This type of gagging can also be caused by poor oral-motor skills)
My hope is that, with this information, you can start to think twice about some of the oral behaviors your child is exhibiting. Maybe you didn’t realize that some of your child’s quirks had an oral sensory motivation behind them. Once you start looking at why they are doing what they are doing, it will change your response, which leads us to the last question… how can you help your child?
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Supporting Your Child’s Oral Sensory Needs
I took a continuing education class once and the instructor said, “oral sensory input is the quickest way to get the sensory system regulated.” That’s a big statement! We then went on to watch a video that showed a boy getting too much stimulation on a swing during therapy. The therapist noticed and stopped the swing ride. The little boy immediately ran around the room desperately and obviously looking for something. He found a squishy ball and sunk his teeth into it like it was a steak. You could see the immediate release. I watched that video many years ago, but it had a big impact on me as an OT, and how I treat oral sensory input – with a lot of importance!
Note that I did not indicate which of these activities was alerting or calming. Some of them generally tend to have one affect over another, but it can differ from child to child since everyone processes sensory input uniquely. I encourage you to experiment with each of these activities as part of your child’s unique sensory diet and notice what tends to calm, alert, and/or organize your child. Check out What a Sensory Diet Is, if that’s a new concept or term for you.
My son, Isaac, using a Chewigem USA chewy necklace.
Chewing Activities
- Crunchy Foods (raw veggies, pretzels, chips, nuts, hard granola bars, popcorn, apples, etc.)
- Vibrating oral toys
- Chewy jewelry like this one from Chewigem USA.
- Chewing gum (kids, younger than you may think, can handle this with proper supervision)
- Chewy foods (fruit leather, dried fruits, licorice, fruit snacks, beef jerky, bagels, marshmallows, raisins, tootsie roll, etc.)
Sucking/Licking
- Sour hard candies
- Popsicles
- Thick drinks through a straw (applesauce, milkshake)
- Suckers
- Drinking from a sports bottle
- Ice cubes
Blowing (generally organizing input)
- Blowing up balloons
- Blowing bubbles
- Whistles
- Harmonicas
- Party blowers
- Pinwheels
General Input Activities
- Vibrating oral toys
- Drinking carbonated beverages
- Sour foods (grapefruit, lemons, pickles, Sweet Tarts, Lemonheads, etc.)
- Spicy foods
- Salty foods
Activities for Avoiders
- Slowly increase tolerance of a vibrating toothbrush
- Use a firm pressure when brushing teeth, brush cheeks, tongue, and along gums well, too!
- Play in a sensory bin! Of course, this isn’t directly affecting oral input, it is improving the tactile system as a whole and can have a dramatic effect.
- Explore new foods with no pressure to eat them. Talk about the foods color, texture, and smell.
If your child is avoiding oral sensory input, some or all of these activities may not be welcomed. However, the above activities can be broken down into small steps, and will help to desensitize the oral sensory input that is being over-processed. In addition, any of the other activities can also be used for avoiders, but will likely need to be broken into very small steps they can tolerate.
On that note, as a reminder, remember to never force any sensory activity, your child should always be an active and willing participant. Even better is when they initiate a sensory diet activity on their own! (Get a list of over 100 Sensory Diet Activities, for the whole sensory system)
Lastly, you can check out two last resources for oral sensory tools and activities here and here, if you really want to be thorough! And, if your think your child has some difficulty with how they’re eating, you’ll also want to check out oral motor exercises.
Want a Free Printable?
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Don’t forget to head over to Chewigem USA and check out all there awesome chewy options.
Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 17 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.
Hi Alisha,
What is the significance differences between ASD and SPD?
Eye contact, etc?
Thank you
HI!!
Thanks for reaching out! ASD is a wide range, and while A LOT of people on the ASD also have sensory differences and may fall within the SPD diagnosis, not all. However people who fall on the SPD do not always have a ASD. There can be overlap, however the range is so significant, I’d reach out to your doctor if you have any concerns with these and getting help with maneuvering through process. This aricle may be helpful for looking at Sensory Integration
Best,
Desiree
Hi Alisha,
You website is very informative and I am very glad I stumbled across it. I have a son who is turning 3 this summer and does not speak except for very few lettered sounds. He eats his food, though he has preferences, always very reluctant to start eating though it is the same thing he had been eating for sometime. At times we have to force to feed him the first spoon, unless he really is hungry or some how knows what he is eating by looking and relates it taste. He had lot of urge to bite on things which had reduced significantly by providing chewy tubes and may be he moved on. Now he is taking objects like straws, twigs or any flexible things so that he can turn them with his hand in such a way that it touches his teeth and/or tip of his tongue. This seems to provide him some kind of sensory satisfaction. At times he salivates, but we keep telling him not to and he tends to listen when we are watching. He does not listen to all commands and is challenging to get him sit at things for long time. Is there anything you would recommend for this sensory thing with the mouth he is going through. I was hoping to have him go away from it to focus on other daily things which can be done or taught.
On a basic level I think giving him something appropriate to chew on, like the chewy tubes or a chewy necklace is very good and helpful. Some kids have very big chewing needs, more than most kids and if you don’t give them an outlet they’ll find something else to use.
Having said that you could also experiment with a more complete sensory diet and see if that decreases his need to chew. Check out this post on creating a sensory diet to learn more!
Hi, I may be make your schedule more adaptive to your son and his needs, instead of changing your sons behavior. For example, is it necessary to make him sit for a long period of time if it causes him to stress? Children with ASD, and sensory processing issues, Need sensory stimulation to calm the nervous system. Movement is a way to do that. When you restrict his movement, you put him in a state of stress and unrest. Please try to learn more about his condition and what is effective and therapeutic, I recommend may be looking at some groups with individuals that have ASD, they are strongly against Therapy that restricts movement
Hi Alisha,
I am glad I ran into this website with such a wealth of information. I have a son turning 3 in summer. He is not speaking yet, except for few letters. He eats his food of various textures but is very reluctant to try anything unless he is absolutely sure. Once we force in his mouth and he gets a taste to his liking or familiar one he continues. As for sensory issues he tries to bend things like straws, twigs or turns objects close to his mouth and teeth constantly, during the process he salivates. We keep telling him not to spit but he tends to follow it only at that instant. He used to chew and we gave chewy tubes and chewing has reduced significantly, just concerned about stimulating his mouth constantly. We give him lollipops too but in the end he bends it and keeps turning it close to the mouth, touching his teeth. He is not currently responding to all commands, only few thing he is familiar or wants to. Do you recommend any ways to help with his sensory seeking actions I described?
On a basic level, I think giving him something appropriate to chew on, like the chewy tubes or a chewy necklace is very good and helpful. Some kids have very big chewing needs, more than most kids, and if you don’t give them an outlet, they’ll find something else to use.
Having said that, you could also experiment with a more complete sensory diet and see if that decreases his need to chew. Check out this post on creating a sensory diet to learn more!
My son use to chew his lips till they bleed before, it is a lot better now that he has alternatives.
awesome!! So great to hear that he has alternatives 🙂
Desiree
Hello. I need hello. My son is not speaking yet, he just turned two. He puts everything in his mouth, he puts his whole palm in mouth, sometimes just finger or two. When watching something in TV he constantly sucks his hands in mouth. When going to sleep happens the same. I feel awful.
Where do i start?
Hey Zane,
So happy you were able to recognize these pattern. It seems like he is just looking for some input. I’d utilize the suggestions in the article on chewing, sucking and blowing activities that are listed. This would be great to see how he reacts and if it’s helping him get enough input.
Best,
Desiree
My son is also not speaking at age 2. He has his hands in his mouth a lot but I presumed his back teeth are coming through. Calpol or teething powders help and he then doesn’t put his hands in his mouth as much.
Also, how about limiting the “commands.”How about giving him choices. For example, letting Him Pick his shirt from a selection that you have chosen if he is able to do so. If he is not able to communicate, maybe seek occupational therapy and the possibility of a communication board so that he is able to tell you what he wants.
I have an 8 yr old going on 9 yr old who is just finishing 3rd grade. We did 2 years OT, and we are not doing behavioral therapy. Also we see improvements every year we still get feedback from the teachers that he is blurting out in class, makes noises, and is off task a lot. With reminders he will stop for a while and stay quiet and then starts back up again. Any sudgestions on what I can do at home or have him do at school to help?
I’d think about a bigger picture sensory diet. What do you know helps calm him, can you do that before and after school so that he’s more regulated? We have a free sensory diet workshop that will be helpful. Check it out here: yourkidstable.com/workshop
Hello, my daughter is almost 5, she has never eaten a lot of different foods. Won’t eat anything with sauce, stopped eating peanut butter, no fruit or veggies. Will only eat chicken and is picky about that. Small muffins, cereal and pancakes. She chews on Everything, from her hair and nails to every toy she has. I think she is seeking but I don’t know if that is why she won’t eat. Help.
Hey Sarah,
Your doing a great job with reaching out, looking for answers!! Let’s first have you take our picky eating quiz to see what category your daughter falls and it will provide some suggestions to start!! Also, completing food play outside of mealtimes to get used to textures and touching can be helpful!! You can check out our quiz here
Best,
Desiree
Great information on your website! Thanks. I have an 18 month-old grandson who constantly keeps his mouth slightly open. If I ask him to close his mouth, he understands and does it for a second or two. How can I help him keep his lips together as I notice other children his age do? He often drools, but not excessively. He chews on toys and non-toy objects, but not clothing. He independently eats foods of a variety of flavors and textures using utensils or his hands, but stuffs his mouth if not supervised. He swallows his food without hardly chewing it, but does not choke. He does not appear to have allergies.He is a smart, active, typically strong child who has met milestones at an appropriate age. How can I help him learn to keep his mouth closed?
Ahh okay, so it sounds like he has some low muscle tone, which is okay, but he may need some more stimulation. I’d keep reminding him and I’d also use a vibrating toothbrush a couple of times a day. Try putting it on the outside of his lips even to stimulate them a bit. The lip and cheek activities above will be great too!
HELP! My 4 years old won’t eat meat except for meatballs. He used to be a good eater until he was around 2 years. Suddenly he started to avoid meats and mixtures like stews, soups. What he eats (few things)needs to be separated. What could have happened??? What can I do???
I got you, I’ve got a whole post on this at Why kid’s don’t eat, you’ll find a lot more tips there too!
Have a 15 month old that eats stage 2 and some 3 meats. Eats stage 4 fruits and vegetables. Will eat veggie straws, teething crackers, graham crackers and gerber cookies. Eats yogurt and applesauce. Had him evaluated by an OT and they said he wasn’t using his gums (the sides of his mouth) to mash up his foods. They told me to continue to “work with him” and there wasn’t any follow up appointments. He has 4 teeth at the top and bottom in the front. It looks to me like he’s using those to chew his foods. Doesn’t seem interested in foods from my plate at this point. Pediatrician thinks he will “get there.” What are your thoughts and any suggestions?
I’d definitely keep working on it! I actually have a free workshop coming out soon, so make sure you grab the free transitioning to table foods printable in this post, that will also be a good read for you too. Pay attention to the toothbrush suggestion in particular! I love how you’re seeking help and being aware!
Hello, just came across your post.
I’m an SLP but my 7 year old would never work with me. He’s a classic oral seeker. constantly putting his fingers in his inner cheeks, chewing on pencils, and food ! Oh the food…, i can barely watch him. He over stuffs his mouth, it spills everywhere, it’s all around his mouth and it doesnt faze him one bit. If I don’t catch him he’ll quickly rub it off with his sleeve as opposed to using a napkin because it’s just faster for him in order to continue eating. I tried using a smaller spoon but he gets frustrated. He makes noises like humming and singing just for the sake of making noises. He has No other atypical symptoms and is developing appropriately. Any suggestions on how to conquer the eating habits
Hmmm, so it does all sound sensory related. I’d use a vibrating toothbrush 2-3 times a day to give him strong input that could keep him better regulated. I’d also experiment with alternating between crunchy, raw veggie type foods that will give a lot of input and softer foods!
Hello! My son is 14 months old and having a problem biting his friends. Sometimes he tries to bite 6+ times in a day. I cannot track it to a time of day or even when he is mad. He also bites on our sofa a lot along with some other toys. Do you think this is behavioral or could it be sensory?
The fact that he’s biting on other things says sensory to me. There could be a behavioral aspect to it though if he’s doing it when he’s angry or frustrated. I’d try to use a biting toy and redirect him to that, the chewy necklaces are great too!
My grandson is ten and gaining weight! He does have a Dx: autism (PDA), low muscle tone, sensory concerns, ( overload & low), anxiety. With intense speech therapy, he started speaking at four. He was having trouble eating and was under weight. We were told to feed mini meals ( especially during an activity he enjoyed, watching tv to take the focus off eating), add ketchup, ranch, butter etc to add flavor to good and pump up the calories. The problem now he wants the oral stimulation food gives and needs the added flavor to tell him where the food is in his mouth and has gotten use to the mini meals (mainly eats at night while watching tv). His activity has decreased over the years and he hit the curve for normal weight and now is above and considered over weight. He is a very picky eater and his diet mainly consist of pepperoni or salami and wants baked chips. Occasionally, he will eat some salad but needs croutons and lots of dressing, chicken with barbeque sauce, and strawberries. He will think food smells good when I’m cooking but won’t eat them. It goes by look and textures.You know the old saying chew your food 100 times well he chews at least 500 hundred times but will stuff his mouth.
I have things he can chew and oral vibrating tool/toy but he thinks he doesn’t need them and rarely uses. He just wants food. I believe with the extra weight and low muscle tone activities are harder for him and we are not burning calories. I hope you have a few ideas that can help him.
Hey Irene!
You have some great things for him in utilizing the chew and oral vibrating toy, this can be great. I’d keep offering them to him and try even after he has eaten to see if you can get some engagement. As far as working on increasing the food variety I’d join our free picky eating video series that is happening now, full of great information on where to start with picky eaters and how to help them. You can save your spot HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi, I have a 5 year old foster daughter who loves to rub things on her lips. Items don’t go in her mouth, she doesn’t chew on them, just rubs them on her lips because she says they are soft. The items include silky blanket edging, toys, erasers, trash she finds on the floor, coins, her fingers, my fingers, buttons on the shirt I’m wearing, the list goes on and on. It annoys me but obviously it’s a safety concern if she’s putting trash and money near or into her mouth. She’s even tried to rub things on my lips before. Is this a sensory thing or some sort of fidget? She’s in play therapy but I get zero feedback from that. Thanks!
Oh this sounds like classic sensory! I’d allow her to do it, and when she uses inappropriate items I’d say, “Uh-oh, that’s not safe so close to your mouth, here’s your_____” And, give her something that’s safe. Also, some tactile input in the form of sensory bins could help diminish this!
I set up some dried bean bins (kidney, garbanzo, black) on Saturday and she played with them for about an hour! Just sorting, touching, burying her hands, using chopsticks to pick them up, she loved it! Thanks!
Hi – I am an adult and I do this! I particularly like soft fluffy things. Or anything soft or smoothe.
Can you recommend somewhere I can buy such items please?
Also, I’ve been trying to find out why I do this! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi my son is 4 & will not eat.He tells me he forgot how to eat.Its been ,8 days since has eaten.He does drink alot.But I just don’t know what happened to my baby cause he’s always had a great appetite.He can eat 4 eggs in one meal.And now he eats nothing.He does spit alot lot now since he’s quit eating. The Dr said kids just do things like this sometimes.But my boy has never done this.Im scared,worried & just don’t know what to do about this.Ive sat with him tried to show him how to eat put food in his mouth and he just spits it right out. I’m worried about my baby boy!
I dont know if I need to keep checking here for a reply are my email.Can someone help me out with that.Thank you
I know how difficult it can be. This can get pretty complex, but there are some steps that I use to help kids like your son, first. I teach them in this free workshop, I think it will be really helpful for you!
Hi Alisha,
My 9 month old son was progressing with table foods but has taken a big step back over the last month. He would play with his food, eat puffs, mum mums, love puffs (similar to soft cheezies) steamed carrots and banana but now all he will eat are smooth purées and star puffs. He even used to eat well blended meat packets but now he doesn’t only gag, he vomits alot if something chunky hits the back of his throat. The vomitting has happened before, but very seldomly and usually if I introduced a chunky puree or thicker food like mashed potatoes when he was quickly devouring a fruit puree. He has a big appetite and is gaining weight but is not advancing. He is a better/less picky eater for my husband than for me, but its still not great. When I put food on his plate he immediately picks it up and throws it over the edge, doesn’t even acknowledge it in the least. I give him pancake, peas, steam carrots, avocado, mums mums, love ducks, yogurt drops with hydrated berries, bread and blueberries cut up regularly throughout the day, but nothing. The peas he’s been putting in his mouth but spits them out after awhile. What do you recommend I do, or does this sound like a sensory issue to you? Thank you, Amy
Hi Amy, I know its so confusing! I’d definitely start with not giving chunky foods of any kind, a lot of babies struggle with this. Think smooth and get slightly thicker. I have a whole post and free printable on how to transition with table foods that is just what you’re looking for. Head to: How to Transition Your Baby (or Toddler) to Table Foods Easily and Safely
Hi!! I need some advice please. I teach kindergarten at a small Christian school . I have several students who constantly suck on fingers, clothing, their hair, eat crayons and play dough,, lick chairs and tables. I’ve been teaching for 24 years and never have seen so many sensory behaviors. Why do you think there is more children with these difficulties??
Hi Alisha,
Any tips for lip sucking? My 6 year old has been doing this since he was a baby and we are having an extreme difficult time getting him to stop. I’ve tried looking for help online and soliciting advice from our pediatrician and dentist but no one is really able to recommend anything to try.
He seems to be doing it as a source of comfort and when he’s tired. Eating mints and candy to reduce the suck only work while he’s eating them. The sucking has started causing issues with his lower jaw/teeth being pushed back. Any additional ideas? Something yucky to place on his lip?
Thanks,
Stephanie
I’d approach this from the angle and see what else helps, maybe some sort of chewy necklace or chewy toy? If he has a sensory need that he can’t get, he will find some way to get it. Another option is try and give proprioception to his whole body. You can experiment with those types of activities and see if it helps. It may take some time to see a difference. Check out some ideas here.
Hi alisha.
I have 2 year old son who is very reluctant to brush his teeth. We have tried every trick out there.He also speech delayed.
Please suggest
Try singing a song, like ABC’s, use the same song consistently. This will help him predict when the end is coming!
Hello, I have 18-month-old nephews. They are behind eating solids one of them is more advanced than the other one. The one that is furthest behind still only eats purees and disliked anything else. I gave them strawberries yesterday he started eating one but it took like an hour for a middle size berry. What can I do to help them?
Using some of the exercises in this post can be very helpful. But, I’d also think about doing some detective work on what the underlying issue could be, this is the perfect article for that: 5 Reasons Kids Won’t Eat. There are additional tips in How to Transition to Table Foods here.