6 yo and chewing on things

[catinthehat]

My 6yo dd often chews on things that are clearly not edible. Her favorites are paper, plastic bags, random art supplies like tape, etc. I think the only thing she eats is the paper, and in small quantities. Should I be concerned about this. I caught her doing it 3 times today. Usually it is not that much. I did notice she is getting molars, may be related, like teething?
As a side note, she was really "off" today. Very whiney, demanding, etc. She actually woke up dd2(3yo) who I had just put to bed. She hasn't done that in years. I kind of lost it
I just didn't understand why she would do that??? I still don't. I guess I will talk to her about it tomorrow. I hate ending the day like that.

[momto4plus4]

I've had similar issues with my dd. She's 9 now and ped has suggested OT for oral issues. She still chews on her clothes, pens/pencils, paper, etc. I talked to the ped after my mom caught her sucking on the end of a baby monitor cord which was plugged into the wall but not the unit. She seemed totally unaware that she was even doing it. Scary! DD is diagnosed ADHD but we've chosen Not to medicate. I don't know if the oral issues are related to that or not. She's always been oral. Sucked her fingers til she was 3 then started on other things. I distinctly remember her being awful with it at 6. I didn't know there were 6 yr molars. Once I found out it made total sense. We've tried different things and what I need to do is invest in some chew sticks for autistic kids. I'm hoping OT will tell us exactly what to use. We let her chew gum but not every day. But, I'm pretty sure every day I'm telling her to get something out of her mouth-I'm so used to it that it doesn't faze me much anymore.

You might want her to chew on crushed ice, gum, etc while her molars are coming in. I'm sure I did something like that with dd, I just don't remember what specifically.

[ewe+lamb]

Our dd chewed pencils and pens and sleeves until her molars came in and then it stopped, she still birtes her fingernails - but is trying really hard to stop, it'll probably pass - I remember chewing pencils especially when that age.

[catinthehat]

Thanks.
I will try having her chew on crushed ice. That sounds like a good diea. She hasn't always been super oral. When I think about it though, it has been going on since kindergarten, so almost a year. She chooses such weird things to chew on though. Plastic? tape?
She might qualify as slightly ADD. I haven't had her tested.

Momto4plus4- What is OT? Oral therapy I am guessing? I will have to look it up.

She also grinds her teeth at night. May be totally unrelated. And she has food allergies.
I may invest in a mineral supplement for her. Dr. said the teeth grinding is not related to mineral deficiency, but better safe then sorry.

[ewe+lamb]

Originally Posted by catinthehat

Thanks.

She also grinds her teeth at night. May be totally unrelated. And she has food allergies.

Grinding teeth has something to do with sonambulism - sleeping walking stuff - I'd look up dr James MacKenna and see what he has to say.

[ramama]

My 6yo went through a chewing and smelling everything stage around 5-going-on-6. She would chew her hair, the neckline of her shirt, blankets, just about everything. She would also smell everything, even "gross" stuff. Although is is still a rather sensory little person, she outgrew it.

[catinthehat]

I didn't find anything on the James MacKenna website. Today she chewed on a straw until I took it from her. She says her teeth hurt, but she points to her front teeth, so I don't know whats going on. I guess I will give it some time and if it gets worse I will take her to the doctor.

[momto4plus4]

Originally Posted by catinthehat

I didn't find anything on the James MacKenna website. Today she chewed on a straw until I took it from her. She says her teeth hurt, but she points to her front teeth, so I don't know whats going on. I guess I will give it some time and if it gets worse I will take her to the doctor.

OT is for occupational therapy. Does she have any adult teeth? If not, maybe her front teeth are getting loose???

[catinthehat]

Oral Therapy, haha