Understanding Oral Sensory Seeking: Why Kids Chew, Lick, and Mouth Objects

As parents, you may notice your child frequently chewing on toys, biting their shirt collars, licking objects, or putting just about everything into their mouth. While this can sometimes feel puzzling (or even frustrating!), these behaviors often come from an important place: your child’s need for oral sensory input.

Oral motor sensory activities can be calming and regulating for children. Just like adults might chew gum or sip coffee to focus, kids use their mouths to self-soothe, stay alert, or organize their bodies and brains.

What Does Oral Sensory Seeking Look Like?

Children who crave oral input may:

Constantly chew on shirt sleeves, pencils, toys, or their fingers.

Frequently lick or mouth non-food objects.

Bite down during play or while concentrating.

Seek out crunchy, chewy, or sour foods.

Suck on hair, clothing strings, or even bottle nipples long past infancy.

These behaviors aren’t “bad habits.” They are signals that your child is trying to regulate their body and emotions.

Why Oral Motor Input Helps Regulation

The mouth is packed with sensory receptors. Chewing, sucking, or blowing sends strong signals to the brain that can help children:

Calm down when overstimulated or anxious.

Wake up when feeling sluggish or tired.

Focus better during learning or play.

Organize emotions when overwhelmed.

Think of oral input as a simple tool kids use to manage their energy—like a built-in “reset button.”

Activities to Support Oral Sensory Needs

Instead of stopping the behavior, we can guide children toward safe and appropriate ways to get the input their bodies crave. Here are some ideas you can try:

Chewing & Biting Activities

Offer safe chewable items (chewelry, silicone pencil toppers).

Crunchy snacks (carrots, pretzels, apples, celery).

Chewy foods (bagels, licorice, dried fruit).

Drinking thick liquids (smoothies, milkshakes) through a straw.

Sucking & Blowing Activities

Drink water or smoothies through a straw or sports bottle.

Use a resistive straw (like a coffee stirrer) for extra effort.

Blow bubbles, whistles, or pinwheels.

Play with musical instruments (harmonica, kazoo, recorder).

Oral Motor Play

Chew bubble gum or blow big bubbles.

Try “animal mouths” (roar like a lion, puff cheeks like a pufferfish).

Use resistive toys (chewy tubes, vibration teethers).

Pretend play with blowing—like “blowing out birthday candles.”

When to Seek Extra Support

If your child’s oral seeking seems constant, interferes with daily routines, or involves unsafe items, an occupational therapist (OT) can help. OTs specialize in sensory processing and can create a personalized plan with safe, regulating strategies tailored to your child’s needs.

✅ Takeaway for Parents: Oral sensory seeking is a natural way children regulate their bodies. By understanding and providing safe outlets—chewing, sucking, blowing—you can help your child feel calmer, more focused, and better organized in their daily life.