Positive Effects of Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking
It is completely natural for babies to suck on a variety of objects (thumb, pacifier, teething ring, etc) as part of life. Non-nutritive sucking provides comfort, well-being and a stress reliever when tired or anxious. There are several positive medical benefits to pacifier or thumb sucking, including a reduction in SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome); the American Academy of Pediatrics even encourages the use of pacifiers in the first 6 months of life for this reason, and studies have use a reduction in stress in hospitalized newborns who used pacifiers. As long as pacifier sucking does not interfere with breast-feeding, its use is encouraged under six months of age.
Negative Effects of Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking
The negative effects of pacifier or thumb sucking are far more widely discussed. Obviously, the longer a child sucks a pacifier or thumb, the more difficult it is to wean them from it. In terms of natural development, a child should be weaned from this habit by the time they stop relying on sucking for most of their nutrition, usually by the age of two. Once pacifier use or thumb sucking continues beyond that point, other issues may arise. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists promotes cessation from pacifier or thumb sucking by the age of four.
There is a suggestion that too frequent use of a pacifier in the newborn may hamper the ability to breast feed successfully; this can lead to less natural antibody transference from the mother to the child and therefore increased childhood infections. The use of pacifiers after 6 months of age has been implicated in the increased incidence of acute otitis media infections. A psychology study published in 2012 suggested that the ability to mimic parental facial expressions in boys using pacifiers was diminished, leading to delayed emotional development. A baby concentrating on sucking a pacifier did not learn as well as one without.
There are several dental reasons why thumb sucking is discouraged:
- Because there is no uniformity in design, pacifiers, in particular, can misalign the jaw. Thumb sucking, too, if prolonged, can lead to changes in the mouth and facial anatomy. Obviously, prolonged thumb sucking can lead to misalignment of the front teeth that are constantly being pulled forward by the thumb. Not only can this also lead to roof of mouth narrowing, resulting in the possibility of teeth not developing normally, but the poor aesthetic results may lead to orthodontic work later in childhood.
- Tooth decay and infections can result from parents coating their children’s pacifiers with sugary substances. These encourage the growth of mouth bacteria, which produce acids that can damage the enamel of developing teeth.
Dentists suggest that, if one must use a pacifier, to get a one-piece design (to avoid small pieces breaking off and choking the child), use an “orthodontically-correct design, not to dip it in sugary substances, and to clean it from frequent drops on the floor with water rather than one’s saliva.
There are several suggestions for weaning a reluctant child from a pacifier or thumb. The use of rewards would probably be much more effective than punishment. A talking to from an “independent” adult authority figure (not necessarily the dentist, but someone whom the child respects) can also be far more effective than a parent cajoling their own child. More aggressive measures might include gloving the offending thumb at night, or wearing a dental apparatus that makes sucking difficult.
Please contact Dr. Boling – Lonestar Smiles for Kids at 817-598-0835 if you have any questions about the Negative Effects of Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking.
