Soothing Smiles: Can Pacifiers Harm My Baby’s Dental Health?

Did you know that although most children develop their first tooth around 1 year old, many start the teething process as early as 4 months? It often takes time to grow their first chompers, and they can become irritable and exhibit other symptoms like drooling, swollen gums, or putting everything in their mouths. Many parents use pacifiers to soothe their baby’s sore tissues, but if you’re not careful, this habit could harm their dental health.

Continue reading to learn more about some common concerns that can be caused by excessive thumb- or pacifier-sucking so you can safeguard your child’s smile!

What are the Benefits of Pacifiers?

There are many ways you might try to ease your infant’s tender gums during teething, like giving them a frozen cloth to chew on or providing toys intended for chewing. However, one of the most popular ways to soothe babies is by giving them a pacifier.

Also popularly known as binkies, dummies, or soothers, these small oral devices have a soft rubber or silicone nipple for your baby to suckle, which mimics nursing. This has a soothing effect on their central nervous system that can help them calm down, fall asleep more easily, and stay asleep longer. Some studies have even suggested that using a pacifier in your child’s first six months can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Do Pacifiers Impact My Child’s Dental Development?

Although there are indeed many advantages to giving your baby a soother, overusing it can harm their dental well-being in a couple of ways. Firstly, using a pacifier can increase the risk of gum disease, which can spread to the jawbone and impact the still-developing teeth. Not only might they suffer gum recession or loss of connective tissues, but this can also lead to cavities in teeth that haven’t yet arrived.

Furthermore, thumb- and pacifier-sucking is known to cause malocclusions like a severe overbite, crossbite, or open bite. These misalignments impact how your child’s teeth touch when they close their mouths. If they don’t meet in the appropriate places, their enamel can wear down unevenly or prematurely, increasing their vulnerability to tooth decay and injuries. It can also affect their speech development, diet, and willingness and ability to eat with utensils as they get bigger.

When Should I Wean My Child Off Pacifiers?

It’s natural to want to preserve your baby’s oral health, which means knowing when to stop giving them binkies to self-soothe. One 2001 study found that nearly 71% of children who continued to use a pacifier after they turned 4 years old developed a malocclusion. Meanwhile, only 36% of those who stopped between 3 and 4 years old showed signs of this kind of misalignment. Even better, only 14% had an issue after quitting at 2 years old.

Most kids naturally grow past the need for pacifiers around this time, but if you’re struggling to help them break the habit, you can contact your pediatric dentist for help!

About the Practice

At New England Kids Pediatric Dentistry, General Dentistry and Orthodontics, you and your family benefit from a team of experts who can meet all your oral healthcare needs conveniently under one roof. With an orthodontist, a pediatric dentist, and a general dentist on staff, they can provide everything from basic preventive care to more complex services, like addressing dental misalignments. They combine a caring approach with state-of-the-art equipment to help you and your child feel at ease while delivering accurate treatment results intended to last. If you’re worried about the state of your baby’s smile, you can request an appointment on the website or call (508) 832-6278.