What are they? Oral motor skills refer to the controlled and coordinated movement of the lips, tongue, cheeks, and jaw for eating, speaking, facial expressions, and oral care.

Did you know? Oral motor skills are not fully developed until 3-5 years old. Delays in the development of these skills can occur due to prolonged pacifier use, ankyloglossia (tongue tie), tight or weak oral muscles, cleft palate, and premature birth.

Signs of Oral Motor Skill Delay

• difficulty spitting out toothpaste

• difficulty opening mouth for oral care

• drooling past an expected age

• mouth breathing

• biting down on toothbrush or eating utensils

• messy or picky eating

• speech delay