A few years ago, I started thinking carefully about what I could do to improve my smile. I had lived with crooked, yellowed teeth for most of my adult life, and honestly, I just wanted to feel beautiful. I started thinking about working with a cosmetic dentist, and before I knew it, I was in an office getting a complimentary consultation. I learned about a variety of different procedures that could improve my look, and it was really fun. I wanted to create a blog all about making smiles more beautiful, which is why I made this website. Check out this blog for great information about dentistry.
If you are a new parent and have concerns about your baby's desire for a pacifier, you are not alone. A lot of parents worry that sucking on a pacifier might affect the child's teeth, and this can be true. Here are several things you may want to know about pacifiers and your baby's teeth.
Are Pacifiers Bad For Teeth?
One question you may want to ask a pediatric dentist is whether pacifiers are bad for babies. Most dentists will agree that giving a baby a pacifier is not really a bad thing, especially when the child is young. Babies naturally love to suck, and this is why so many babies enjoy having a pacifier. Pacifiers themselves are not really harmful for a child until the child gets older, and by the time it is harmful, most kids have stopped using theirs.
You can talk to your doctor to find out when to take your child's pacifier away. Some doctors believe you should do this when a child is between 6 to 12 months old, while others believe it is fine for kids to continue using them until they are two to three years old. Using a pacifier up until this point
Sucking on a pacifier or on anything else, such as a thumb, after this point may be harmful though. If a child is still sucking on a pacifier by the time he or she begins losing teeth, it can affect the new teeth the child gets. One way this can affect teeth is by pushing the top front teeth outwards, which may lead to an overbite.
The use of a pacifier can also lead to tooth decay, which is a common concern dentists and parents have. This typically is only a problem when parents dip the pacifier in something sweet, such as honey, and this is why your pediatric dentist will recommend avoiding this.
Are Orthodontic Pacifiers Any Better?
There are hundreds of pacifiers you can choose from to give your baby, and one option is called an orthodontic pacifier. This type is created in a way that is designed to prevent the device from causing misalignments to a child's teeth. Because of the difference in the way these kinds are created, it may help prevent issues; however, most experts believe
As with any type of pacifier, you should take an orthodontic one away from your child when he or she turns one.
Some people believe giving a child a pacifier is a good way to prevent the child from developing the habit of sucking his or her thumb. Thumb-sucking can cause tooth problems if the child continues the habit too long, and it is harder to help a child break this habit, because you cannot take the child's thumb away.
If you have questions about pacifiers or anything else that relates to your baby's teeth, contact a pediatric dentist today. To learn more, speak with a business like Round Lake Dental Clinic.
Share2 February 2016
