What You Need to Know About Pacifier Teeth

Have you heard of pacifier teeth?

Pacifiers are babies' favorite things in the world but unfortunately, prolonged use, which is very common, has some negative effects on their teeth and dental health.

Fortunately, pacifier-related dental issues or 'pacifier teeth' are completely avoidable with responsible use and timely elimination of pacifier use. Always consult your Parker, CO dentist, Dr. Scott Ohmart at Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry for the best approach to your children's dental health.

Pacifiers & Pacifier Teeth

Pacifiers are great for both, kids and parents, especially during the early days of development. They can help:

• Soothe your baby
• Reduce pain for nursing infants
• Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

 These are all valid reasons to use pacifiers.

However, prolonged thumb sucking and pacifier use can affect the development of your kid's mouth, specifically the roof of their mouths, and teeth alignment, resulting in pacifier teeth. Moreover, they can result in breastfeeding difficulties and increase the chances of an ear infection.

Responsible Pacifier Use & Cut Off

The intensity at which your baby sucks on pacifiers and their thumb has a large influence on them developing pacifier teeth. You must keep an eye on them and make sure they do not vigorously suck on pacifiers and thumbs.

Passive usage is normal and you can consult your Parker, CO dentist at Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry for a better, more detailed understanding.

By the time their permanent teeth are about to erupt, most kids will stop sucking thumbs and pacifiers, which is between the ages of 2 and 4. However, it is best advised to cut off pacifiers by age 2 to avoid any negative results on your children's dental health.

Conclusion

If you are concerned about your kid's pacifier and thumb sucking habits or you see any changes in their primary teeth, please consult your Parker, CO dentist immediately. Thumb sucking habits are a sign of anxiety and you need your approach to address that instead of scolding them to stop.

To learn more about pacifier teeth, pacifiers and thumb-sucking habits, how to best address them and about your children's dental health, please visit our website, or Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry in Parker, CO.