Do pacifiers cause dental problems?
You can take a breath and not worry about dental issues as long as your child is weaned off of the infant pacifier before three years old!
By Kelsey Martin
My 2 and 4-year-olds are currently preparing for their dentist appointments in a few weeks. We have been reading all the dentist visit books and watching the Daniel Tiger dentist episode on repeat to prepare them for this new experience.
I mention this because one of the biggest concerns with babies using an infant pacifier is that it will cause dental problems. Both of our children used pacifiers, but I am not concerned at all with what the dentist will say in regards to the alignment of their teeth.
The truth about a newborn pacifier is yes, there can be dental problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics says, “Pacifier usage beyond one year also leads to a significantly higher incidence of anterior open bite, although an anterior open bite will improve after elimination of the pacifier before age three.
They also say that there is a “significantly higher incidence of anterior open bite compared to those not using a pacifier” if kids are still using a pacifier at age 3 or above. Most kids are long done with their newborn pacifier by then! If your child is approaching the three-year mark and is still using a pacifier, see one of our other blogs on how to get rid of the pacifier.
However, there are several pacifiers made with this specifically in mind and are now made to combat this problem! There are many orthodontic pacifiers out there that have consulted pediatric dentists when designing them. Orthodontic pacifiers have a thin necked nipple to help with palate support.
Some popular orthodontic pacifiers include:
1. Itzy Ritzy
2. Nuk Orthodontic Pacifiers: Be mindful when shopping with this brand. They have some pacifiers with multiple pieces. A newborn pacifier with multiple pieces can break and become choking hazards instantly.
Multiple pieces also make it easier for bacteria to get stuck in places. You are supposed to replace pacifiers every 4-6 weeks, but they should still be sterilized regularly. You want something that is going to be easy to clean and/or something that is dishwasher safe!
3. Natursutten
So, if you’re like me and get anxiety over every detail of parenting, you can take a breath and not worry about dental issues as long as your child is weaned off of the infant pacifier before three years old! You might think, why even start them on it if it could cause issues? Well, the American Academy of Pediatrics says, “Pacifier use should not be actively discouraged and may be especially beneficial in the first six months of life.”
Pacifiers have so many advantages that it’s worth it to start your baby on a pacifier ASAP! Something that will make your pacifier journey easier and less stressful is the Ingy Bingy Band.
The Ingy Bingy Band is a pacifier wristband that attaches to your baby’s wrist so that they can self-soothe younger than ever – at about 4 months of age on average! Any pacifier of your baby’s choice will attach to this pacifier bracelet so you can freely choose which pacifier you feel is best for your baby’s dental needs! This pacifier wristband will save you and your baby’s sanity!