Soothers and Teeth : Can a Pacifier Affect Your Child’s Teeth?

Soothers and Teeth : Lead to Crooked Teeth?

No. This is one of the most important things parents should know. A pacifier does not guarantee that your child will develop crooked teeth.

Research shows an association between prolonged pacifier use and certain dental problems. It does not mean that every child who uses a pacifier will develop them. The effect can depend on several things, including:

• Your child's age

• How many hours a day the soother is used

• How many years the habit continues

• How strongly your child sucks

• Whether the soother is used during the day or mainly at bedtime

• The child's natural jaw growth

• Genetics

• Other sucking habits

A child who uses a pacifier for 20 minutes before falling asleep is very different from a child who keeps one in their mouth for most of the day. This is why duration and frequency matter.

Soothers and Teeth : Safe Age

Age is an important part of the picture. A newborn and a 3-year-old do not have the same dental needs.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends discontinuing non-nutritive sucking habits by around 36 months. It also recommends limiting or stopping pacifier use around the time the canine teeth emerge, approximately 18 months, to reduce the risk of posterior crossbite.

A simple guide is:

These are general guidelines. Your child's dentist or pediatrician may suggest a different approach depending on your child's needs.

Soothers and Teeth : Is Night Use Safe?

Soothers and Teeth are a common combination used at night. Using a soother mainly at bedtime is generally different from having it in the mouth throughout the day. For example, a toddler who uses a pacifier for 30 minutes while falling asleep has much less exposure than a toddler who uses one during play, watching TV, travelling and sleeping.

Still, nighttime use can continue for a long time, so it is worth gradually reducing the habit as your child gets older. One practical approach is to make the soother a sleep-only item first.

You can tell your child:

"The soother stays in bed."

Once your child gets used to that rule, you can work on stopping it completely.

Are Orthodontic Soothers Better for Teeth?

You may see pacifiers labelled:

• Orthodontic

• Dental

• Anatomical

• Physiological

These soothers have a different shape and are often marketed as being better for developing teeth. Some studies suggest that pacifier design may affect the type or amount of dental changes that occur. However, the evidence is not strong enough to say that an orthodontic pacifier prevents dental problems completely.

This is important. An "orthodontic" label does not mean your child can use the pacifier for several extra years without concern. How long your child uses the soother still matters.

If your child is three years old and uses an orthodontic pacifier for several hours every day, the design alone will not remove the concern.

Soothers and Teeth: Can Cause Cavities?

This is where parents often get confused. The sucking action itself is not the main cause of tooth decay. The bigger concern is putting sugary substances on the soother.

Never dip a pacifier in:

• Honey

• Sugar

• Syrup

• Juice

• Sweetened drinks

These substances can leave sugar around your child's teeth and increase the risk of cavities. The American Dental Association advises parents not to dip pacifiers in sugar or honey.

There is another habit you should avoid. Do not put your child's pacifier in your own mouth to clean it. Adults can pass cavity-causing bacteria to babies through saliva.

Instead, clean the pacifier according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Soothers and Teeth : Dental Problems

It helps to keep these two issues separate.

This distinction is often missing in articles about pacifiers. A clean pacifier does not suddenly give your baby cavities. However, prolonged sucking can affect the developing bite. And dipping that pacifier in honey or sugar adds a completely different problem.

What Happens If You Stop the Soother?

This is one of the biggest concerns for parents. You may notice a gap between your child's front teeth and immediately worry that orthodontic treatment will be needed.

Don't panic.

Some dental changes associated with sucking habits can improve after the habit stops, especially when the child is still young. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that some changes to the mouth may correct themselves if a child stops a strong sucking habit before the permanent front teeth come in.

But this does not happen in every child. Some changes may remain and need monitoring or treatment. That is why it is better to have your child's dentist check the bite rather than trying to predict what will happen at home.

Soothers and Teeth : Safe Weaning Methods

Stopping a soother can be difficult. For some children, it is connected with sleep and comfort. Taking it away suddenly may lead to crying, poor sleep and a very unhappy toddler. A gradual approach can be easier.

1. Start With Daytime Use. 

If your child uses the soother throughout the day, begin by removing it during play. You can say: "The soother is for sleeping."

Put it somewhere your child cannot easily see it. It may take a few days for them to get used to this.

1. Keep It for Sleep

Once your child can manage without the pacifier during the day, keep reducing its use. You may allow it only for:

• Naps

• Bedtime

• Nighttime

This is a good middle step before stopping completely.

1. Create a New Bedtime Routine

Your child may need another way to feel calm. Try a routine such as:

1. Bath

2. Pajamas

3. Brush teeth

4. Story

5. Cuddle

6. Favourite toy

7. Sleep

Try to keep the routine the same every night. Children often respond better when they know what is coming next.

4. Give Praise

Avoid telling your child that they are "too old" or "a big baby" for using the soother. Instead, praise small steps. You can say:

"You played without your soother today. That's great."

Or:

"You slept for half the night without it." Positive reinforcement can make the process easier.

What If My Child Refuses to Stop?

Some children become very attached to their soother. If your child gets extremely upset every time you try to remove it, slow down and try a gradual approach. If your child is older and the habit is still strong, talk to your pediatric dentist. Your dentist can look at the developing bite and help you decide how quickly the habit needs to stop.

You don't need to turn bedtime into a daily fight.

Should You Cut the Soother?

You may find advice online telling parents to cut, pierce or damage the nipple of a pacifier. It is better not to do this unless your child's healthcare professional specifically recommends a safe method. A damaged pacifier may break apart or become a safety risk.

A planned weaning process is safer.

Soothers and Teeth : Safety

Dental health is important, but basic pacifier safety matters too.

Check it regularly

Look for:

• Cracks

• Tears

• Loose parts

• Changes in shape

• A damaged nipple

Replace the pacifier if it becomes damaged.

Keep it clean

Follow the cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Never put honey or sugar on it

Honey should also never be given to babies younger than 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism.

Don't clean it in your mouth

Your saliva can transfer bacteria to your baby.

Avoid long cords

Do not attach a pacifier to your baby's neck or use long cords that could become dangerous.

When Should Your Child Visit the Dentist?

Your child's first dental visit should happen by around 12 months of age, or when the first tooth appears, depending on your dental provider's advice. The visit is not only about cavities. Your dentist can also look at:

• Tooth eruption

• Jaw development

• The shape of the dental arches

• The child's bite

• Pacifier use

• Thumb sucking

• Oral hygiene

Early dental visits can also make dental care feel normal to your child.

Signs That Your Child's Soother Habit May Be Affecting Their Teeth

Make an appointment with your child's dentist if you notice:

• A gap between the front teeth when your child bites

• Upper front teeth that appear to stick forward

• Back teeth that bite in an unusual position

• Difficulty biting food

• A noticeable change in the shape of the upper jaw

• Strong pacifier use continuing after age 3

You don't need to wait for permanent teeth. A dentist can monitor changes while the baby teeth are still present.

Soother vs Thumb Sucking: Which Is Worse?

Both habits can affect the developing teeth if they continue for too long. There is, however, one practical difference. A soother can be removed. A thumb cannot.

This makes pacifier habits easier for parents to control.

Research has found that both pacifier use and finger sucking can be associated with dental changes such as anterior open bite and posterior crossbite. So if your baby needs something to suck for comfort, a pacifier can be easier to manage later than a thumb-sucking habit. But it still needs to be phased out as your child gets older.