The Negative Effects of Prolonged Pacifier Use
It’s your parental instinct to soothe your crying infant, and many parents often turn to a pacifier for assistance. A pacifier may help quiet a fussy infant and satisfy their need to suckle simultaneously. While there are benefits to using the pacifier, a few drawbacks are worth considering as you decide when to permit or limit usage. The negative effects of prolonged pacifier use detail difficult scenarios that may occur if you cannot keep it out of their mouths.
Dental Issues
Excess pacifier use can do real damage to your child’s dental health. “Pacifier teeth” and other oral issues are possible when your little one’s sucking continues past the infancy stage.
Babies’ teeth can grow misaligned and project outward, resulting in an open bite and wider gaps toward the front of the mouth. Although buck teeth are sometimes a result of genetics, pacifier usage may lead to or exacerbate the condition.
Crossbite is another real concern for extended binky use. Their back teeth will begin to shift, resulting in an overbite. Finally, the roof of the mouth might become narrower, and the teeth may become more crowded.
Increased Rate of Ear Infections
Ear infections can be a traumatic event for any parent. However, they are worse for the child suffering from the pain without an effective form of communication to rely on.
Current evidence indicates that pacifier usage could lead to increased ear infections. Using a pacifier in excess may influence how well the eustachian tubes work. The eustachian tubes, located internally toward the sides of the face, are tiny openings that go from the neck to the middle ear. The irregular opening of the tubes from repeated sucking may lead to infection in the middle ear by allowing germs and fluids from the throat to enter, resulting in painful ear infections.
Feeding Confusion
A contentious debate many doctors and parents have regarding how long they should use a pacifier is its effect on the baby’s feeding habits. The answer will depend on who you ask, so let’s cover each viewpoint.
Older babies and toddlers who rely heavily on a pacifier may have trouble switching to the more mature actions of eating from a spoon or drinking from a cup, especially when they have to put aside their comfort binky in order to finish a meal.
Meanwhile, many pediatric experts proclaim little correlation between pacifiers and feeding issues. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. Your pediatrician may allay any fears you have, so always rely on them when you have questions.
Speech Concerns
A pacifier could cause bad habits regarding speech in toddlers. It is more challenging for a youngster to communicate when they have a pacifier in their mouth, and they may feel disinclined to verbally communicate much if it means they have to remove the binky first. One word may be all they attempt to communicate, or they may settle on a grunt or whine to get their point across. Additionally, some of the letters may give them trouble, such as “s” and “z.”
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