Babys First Year Blog
The New York Times Sinks its Teeth Into Pacifiers
Does this NY Times piece make you more likely to take away your baby's binky?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a baby in possession of the desire to suck must be in want of a pacifier (or a breast or bottle, but you get the point).
Some parents give them the pacifier. Others choose to let their babies find their thumbs. Pacifiers are generally regarded as benign by pediatricians since they are believed to help prevent SIDS in young babies. Plus, when it comes time to get rid of them, they are easier to take away than thumbs.
However, as has long been suspected, pacifiers can affect a child’s teeth if used for too long a period. The New York Times addressed the issue in the paper’s Health section earlier this week.
Pacifiers “can have some adverse effects on the structures of the oral cavity, especially after prolonged use,” said Dr. Abhinav Sinha, director of the pediatric dental clinic at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, in the Times piece.
The most common affliction is an anterior open bite, which is “an obvious gap between the upper front and lower front teeth when the jaw is closed,” in which the back teeth touch but the front teeth don’t.
Pacifier use past the age of 5 can delay the front baby teeth from falling out at a normal time and hinder emergence of adult teeth, Dr. Sinha said.
Other hazards of increased pacifier use include more ear infections as well as speech and language problems.
Dr. Sinha says pacifiers can be used to lull a child to sleep, but should be immediately removed — and pacifiers should be eliminated entirely before a child’s second birthday, although the earlier, the better.
Does this make you less likely to give your baby a pacifier, or does it simply strengthen your resolve to ensure your baby gives it up before the habit becomes too hard to break?
Image: Wikipedia
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5 Comments
Tragic Sandwich commented on Jan 12 12 at 11:37 amWell, the first thing I wonder is how common pacifier use past age 5 is, anyhow. This doesn’t sound like something to spend a lot of time on, frankly,
Jodymo commented on Jan 12 12 at 12:01 pmnice austen reference ;)
Ana A. commented on Jan 12 12 at 2:58 pmI’m not too concerned about it. I see the pacifier as something for a baby, once Chloe is no longer a baby she should no longer need it and I will transition her out of it
Lauren commented on Jan 13 12 at 9:38 amEasier to say than do! Despite my parents best efforts, I had a pacifier until I was 6; for the first years of my life my family life was in a state of flux – my Air Force father was usually posted in a different country, and with my brother at boarding school, I think perhaps my mother allowed to keep the paci as it was the only constant and reliable way to comfort me. It was always taken out once I was asleep, and I never took it to friends’ houses/sleepovers because I was too embarrased! It was only when one of my “big” teeth started to grow through at a funny angle (due to the impact of a jungle gym face-plant, not the pacifier) and my orthodontist expressed horror that I was still using a pacifier, that I stopped. I couldn’t throw that thing in the trash fast enough! I think i’d rather let my children use a pacifier than thumb, but I will be very strict about when to quit – I don’t want them growing up with the same overbite as me (and having braces for the third time at 27, as I am now, is not only uncool, but very freaking expensive!)
Melinda T commented on Jan 13 12 at 11:32 amIm sorry but I find thumb sucking a harder habit to break than a pacifier. My daughter is teething and my savior has been her binki. It satisfies her need to chomp on everything. And once her teeth finally come in the pacifier is going bye bye. The earlier you take away it away the easier it is. Well in my experience anyway.
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