However, when the pacifier is not stopped at the appropriate age, it can be associated with various adaptations in the baby’s mouth. Given the position of the teeth, tongue, and use of the facial muscles involved in the act of sucking, there are some negative effects of consideration.
Among the main alterations in the baby’s mouth caused by the pacifier are the following:
open bite
An open bite is the lack of contact between the upper and lower incisors when the mouth is closed. Due to the use of a pacifier, the upper incisors are displaced forward, while the lower incisors develop inward.
deformities
The shape of the palate and dental arches may also be affected. This is due to the placement of the oral muscles through the continuous sucking reflex at a stage of accelerated development such as the first years of a child’s life.
‘rabbit teeth’
Known as “rabbit teeth,” bumping of the upper front teeth is a common feature in children who have used a pacifier for a long time or who continue to suck their thumbs. In addition to an aesthetic problem, this feature can be associated with speech, respiratory system, or affect eating time problems.
When to remove the pacifier to avoid oral problems?
According to the recommendations of experts in pediatric dentistry, the pacifier should disappear before the age of 3. The ideal age to start removing it would be between 2 and 3 years of age. No more than four years old
At this stage of the child’s development, the teeth that may have been affected by the use of the pacifier are back in place. As or more important than leaving the pacifier on is getting the child to do without any object that needs to be inserted into the mouth for sleep, including the thumb.
