Fingers fingers and fingers

My son is 4.5 and essentially from day one has chewed on his fingers...it is escalated to a point where he is always having his hands in his mouth gnawing on them. He gets plenty to eat, he is not teething, he does suck on his fingers at night as a comfort measure but this is different than sucking on them. Anyone else with similar issues? Any advice to get him to stop...I've tried putting stuff on his hands but that doesn't change anything. If I put mittens on he either takes them off or starts to chew on them. Really want to break this habit since it is that fun time of year for spreading germs but also because his poor hands are mauled and look painful. Spoke with teachers, therapists, etc and no one had any sound advice...help please  

What about a chew stick? One of the boys in girlie's class has one that he wears around his neck. Looks like its made of rubber

When my LO was really in the mouthing stage I just constantly told him "Not in your mouth". Seriously, constantly for several months. He has not put anything other than food/drink in his mouth for probably 1.5-2 years now and he's 3, lol. Just take his hands out of his mouth and say that, and of coure repeat 100 times a day. He'll eventually get it.

Tried them, he used vthem occasionally when he got to prek and even before in birth to three, but then goes back to his fingers. His whole hands are chapped pretty bad right now.

Quoting beandis:" Tried them, he used vthem occasionally when he got to prek and even before in birth to three, but then goes back to his fingers. His whole hands are chapped pretty bad right now."

I didn't realize he was old enough to be in pre-k. IDK, I nipped it in the bud early because I couldn't stand all the shizz goign in to his mouth.

Yessiree, he'll be five in may. Sigh