Alternately called dummies or pacifiers, soothers are used by parents throughout the world to quieten babies. Apart from soothing a child, dummies have also been linked with a reduced risk of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. However, soothers can also impact negatively a child’s teeth and oral health.
Because of the constant sucking motion, the overuse of soothers can lead to:
• Impaired jaw growth
• Misaligned or protruding teeth
• An overbite or open bite
Dental experts recommend that infants should be “completely weaned off a pacifier by age two” and many suggest it should be even sooner. Regular check-ups with the child’s dentist will help in spotting potential issues. For further information on this topic, you may find the following link helpful – https://www.healthline.com/health/pacifier-teeth
