Sucking is a natural reflex for infants that ultimately serves to comfort them. Since they can’t eat 24/7, though, they must resort to sucking on their fingers and any pacifiers or teething toys that their parents provide. While there’s nothing wrong with giving your baby a pacifier, you’re going to have to wean them off of it at some point. Considering the impact that prolonged pacifier use can have on overall oral health, children’s dentists recommend doing so sooner rather than later. 

How Does a Pacifier Damage a Child’s Oral Health?

Using a pacifier may seem perfectly harmless, but over time, it can threaten your child’s oral health. Sucking on a pacifier beyond the age of 4 or so can inhibit proper development by affecting the alignment of the teeth and altering the shape of the roof of the mouth. Since crooked or misaligned teeth are much harder to keep clean, this will make your child especially vulnerable to damage, decay, and cavities. 

Pacifiers—and thumbs—can also expose children to all kinds of bacteria. Such bacteria will not only impact their teeth, tongue, and gums but also make them more susceptible to illness. 

How Can You Help Them Cut the Habit? 

The best way to mitigate the kinds of issues that prolonged sucking can cause is by weaning your baby off of the pacifier as early as possible. Although every child is different, and some may be more attached to their pacifier than others, there are certain strategies that work for most parents.

For example, letting your child know the pacifier will be unavailable shortly will give them time to prepare. Then, gradually reduce each day’s total sucking time. Not having a pacifier at night can be especially difficult for some kids, so be prepared for a few late nights once you take it away entirely. With a little determination, though, it may be possible to wean your child off of the pacifier in a matter of days. 

Weaning your child off of the pacifier is just one aspect of protecting their oral health. Another essential component is scheduling their first dental cleaning when the first tooth comes in. If you need a friendly children’s dentist in Anchorage, look no further than Alaska Dentistry for Kids. Their seasoned team is proud to provide comprehensive dental care for children of all ages, from infants to adolescents. In their state-of-the-art facility, they offer everything from lip and tongue-tie treatment to full mouth restoration. To schedule an appointment with a children’s dentist on their team, call (907) 274-2525 or visit them online.