Pacifier manufacturers have developed new.
Baby teeth crooked pacifier.
The damage usually shows up around the ages of 4 6 just as the permanent teeth are beginning to replace your baby s teeth.
However you need to ensure to start weaning your baby off the pacifier by age two to prevent your baby s teeth from growing crooked.
The act of sucking is natural.
Unfortunately the presence of a pacifier can cause developing mouths to grow improperly in some situations leading to abnormal tooth development and other issues along the way.
This is when they have control over their tongue and mouth and suckling is replaced by sucking.
This is also when teething begins and pacifiers are easily replaced by teething rings and other self soothing items.
Since your child s teeth and jaw development will grow around the shape of anything sucked on repeatedly whether it is a thumb finger or pacifier pacifier teeth have noticeable characteristics.
However pacifier use often is an easier habit to break.
Never dip a pacifier in sugar honey or other sweeteners before giving it to an infant.
It is believed that the act of just putting something in the mouth is a way to calm and soothe your baby.
It s unlikely that the pacifier will cause permanent damage while your child still has her baby teeth and her permanent teeth won t typically start appearing until she s about 6 years old.
Having crooked baby teeth doesn t.
Another contributor to crooked tooth development is the practice of thumb or pacifier sucking.
But this depends on exactly when and how long your child is using these comfort crutches and how young they are when they stop.
If you offer an infant a pacifier use a clean one.
A good guideline for when you should stop pacifier use is once your baby starts cooing and babbling at about five months old.
Still if your child shows no signs of quitting when she s 3 years old it s a good idea to have her dentist evaluate her jaw and teeth.
Breaking the habit pacifiers can affect the teeth in essentially the same way as does sucking on fingers and thumbs.
They can cause baby teeth to grow in slightly crooked.
If you are in the habit of using a pacifier to soothe your baby it is alright.
Ceasing pacifier use at an early enough age can help prevent the need for orthodontic treatment down the road.
Both pacifier use and thumb finger sucking can lead to disruption of tooth alignment and crooked jaws.
Prolonged habits such as sucking on a pacifier or thumb can also cause baby teeth to become pushed out or crooked.
Thumb sucking should be corrected as well and can sometimes be harder to wean your child off than the pacifier.
Heredity and genetics may also play a role.