Pacifiers give busy parents a break by alleviating some of an infant's intense sucking need and providing her with a way to self-soothe. The Mayo Clinic also suggests that pacifiers potentially serve a protective purpose by reducing an infant's risk of SIDS. While some parents find the pacifier indispensable throughout the early months of their baby's life, the Academy of General Dentistry recommends that children give up the pacifier by the age of 2 to prevent long-term damage to their teeth.
Time Frame
Reap the benefits of pacifier use without the potential harm by following the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of introducing the pacifier at 1 month of age--after breastfeeding is established--and discontinuing it before your child turns 2. AGD spokesman Luke Matranga expresses concern that use after the age of 2 can potentially cause problems with teeth alignment. The bottom teeth might tilt in and the upper ones slant out. It might also cause changes in the shape of the roof of your child's mouth and interfere with mouth growth.
Considerations
Examine your child for the beginnings of an overbite to see whether you need to discontinue the pacifier before age 2. Children who suck hard on the pacifier and who use it as a night-time sleep crutch run the risk of damaging their teeth. AskDrSears.com recommends running your hand over your child's top teeth to check for prominent ones that indicate the beginning of an overbite.
Misconceptions
Tooth decay generally does not result from pacifier use, unless you dip the pacifier in something sweet like honey or sugar to soothe your infant. Avoid the temptation to provide him with a sweet "treat." The honey and sugar can stay on his teeth and lead to decay. If you need to convince him to use the pacifier using sugar, he might need a different type of comfort. Try rocking him, going for a walk or reading a book together.
Prevention/Solution
Help make your child's pacifier experience as safe and healthy as possible by buying an orthodontic brand and gently helping your child give it up before it causes long-term problems. While some parents swear by the "cold turkey" method, in which they simply remove all pacifiers from the house and tolerate their child's unhappiness and crying, other alternatives exist. Try introducing a stuffed animal or blanket that can help comfort your child if she wakes at night. Let your child use the animal or blanket and pacifier for a few nights, then start removing the pacifier at night and offering her the animal or blanket when she wakes.
Expert Insight
While long-term pacifier use can potentially damage your child's teeth, AskDrSears.com cautions that, in most cases, "pacifiers bother adults more than they harm babies." The pacifier habit, especially in a 1- or 2-year-old, is a harmless habit and one indicative of a healthy emotional state.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Pacifiers: Are They Good for Your Baby?
- Family Doctor: Pacifiers: Benefits and Risks
- Ask Dr. Sears: Pacifiers: In or Out
- Columbia University College of Dental Health: Can Pacifiers and Bottles Ruin My Baby's Teeth?
- American Academy of General Dentistry: Pacifiers Have Negative and Positive Effects
