122 Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science | Vol. 8 | Issue 7 | October 2020 Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science 2020, Volume 8, Issue 7, Page No: 122-128 Copyright CC BY-NC 4.0 Available Online at: www.jrmds.in eISSN No. 2347-2367: pISSN No. 2347-2545 JRMDS J o u r n a l o f R e s e a r c h i n M e d i c a l a n d D e n t a l S c i e n c e Knowledge and Awareness on Habits and Habit Breaking Appliances Among Parents-A Questionnaire Survey Vishnu Prasanna SG, Vignesh Ravindran* Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India ABSTRACT Habits are one of the major etiologic factors which will lead to malformation in dentofacial structures. Oral habits can be classified as normal or deleterious. Parafunctional habits are recognized as a major etiological factor for the development of dental malocclusion. Thumb sucking and tongue thrusting are the most commonly seen oral habits. The study aims at assessing the knowledge and awareness of habit and habit breaking appliances among parents. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in January 2020 among parents. 100 parents who brought their kids with adverse oral habits for treatment participated in this study. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions related to the habit and its effects. The collected data was added in MS Excel and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software and Chi-square test was done. The results depicted that 92% of parents were aware of thumb sucking habit, 75% were aware of mouth breathing habit, 66% were not aware of tongue thrusting, and 71% aware of bruxism. 73% of parents were aware that oral adverse habits can lead to malocclusion. 83% of parents felt that habit breaking appliance can prevent malocclusion. 71% of the parents did not know that habit breaking appliance should not be used for more than 6 months. 46% of males and 27% of females were aware that adverse oral habits can lead to malocclusion. Chi square test shows p=0.000, significant. Majority of the parents were aware that habit breaking appliances can be used to prevent malocclusion but most of them did not know that habit breaking appliances were used to treat adverse oral habits. Key words: Adverse oral habits, Awareness, Habit breaking appliance, Malocclusion HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Vishnu Prasanna SG, Vignesh Ravindran. Knowledge and Awareness on Habits and Habit Breaking Appliances Among Parents-A Questionnaire Survey, J Res Med Dent Sci, 2020, 8 (7): 122-128. Corresponding author: Vignesh Ravindran e-mail: vigneshr.sdc@saveetha.com Received: 15/09/2020 Accepted: 16/10/2020 INTRODUCTION A habit is a repetitive action that is being done automatically. Habits are one of the major etiologic factors which will lead to malformation in dentofacial structures [1]. Oral habits can be classified as normal or deleterious. Nasal breathing, chewing, and swallowing are regarded as physiological and functional habits, since they contribute to the establishment of normal occlusion, favoring the harmonic facial growth without deviations [2]. However, digital suction, oral breathing, use of pacifiers and bottles as well as, lower lip interposition/suction, tongue suction, onychophagy, and mandibular propulsion are considered deleterious oral habits [3,4]. When persistent, these habits contribute to the development of malocclusions and phonetic changes, as they affect the growth and development of the muscles and bones of the jaw [5]. Repetitive behaviors are common in the infantile period and most of them are started and finished spontaneously [6]. Major etiological factor for the development of dental malocclusion are parafunctional habits. Thumb sucking and tongue thrusting are the most seen oral habits [7-9]. Deleterious oral habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip or cheek biting causes harmful effects on the development of maxillofacial complex resulting in anterior open bites and posterior crossbite in children [10]. Oral health is said to be an integral part of general health. Children with extracted anterior teeth along with the habit of thumb sucking require attention commonly for aesthetics, function, and space maintenance but also must be given an appliance for habit breaking [11]. The line of treatment for these habits