Many parents have heard all opinions about putting baby to bed with a pacifier. Some believe that putting their baby to bed with a pacifier is the best and most efficient way to get their child to sleep. However, other people believe that providing their little one with a pacifier can be the start of a dangerous habit? Many moms, dads, doctors, even dentists have passionate opinions on both ends of the spectrum.
So, what’s the truth? It turns out it’s not all black or white. There are some great areas when it comes to pacifiers and babies.
We recently reviewed a fairly new study published in an issue of General Dentistry. This issue indicated some shocking news: it turns out that babies that have been put down with pacifiers are less likely to suffer from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) than those who were not given the pacifier as an option. In this production, the General Dentistry explained how the pacifier allows babies to awaken from the kind of extremely deep sleep that could result in non-breathing. They also provide what the pacifier was invented for: sucking satisfaction and a sense of well-being.
On the other hand, there are many issues that are said to be caused by baby pacifiers. According to General Dentistry, baby pacifiers can cause problems with the growth of the mouth, tooth alignment and much, much more. Such as, like any other source of “comfort” a baby grows attached to, the pacifier can become a habit that can be extremely difficult to break. One tip suggested by many professionals: instead forcing your baby to quit their pacifier “addiction” cold turkey, let your precious little one use their pacifier to get to sleep, then gently remove it for the evening.
The most important thing to remember is that pacifiers won’t cause any permanent tooth alignment problems as long as a child stops using it before their second birthday. The developing jawbone remains flexible and should be able to correct itself on its own.
This news should certainly help pacify some of the more anxious Moms out there! For more questions about healthy pacifier habits, call your trusted Livermore Hills Dentist now.