Pacifiers are very important for babies. They help soothe your baby and distract them from dental discomfort. However, using pacifiers for too long can affect your baby's oral health. For instance, prolonged use can make your child have an irregularly shaped mouth. This could force you to provide them with orthodontic care during their growth. Therefore, it is vital to know when your child should stop using pacifiers.
When to Stop
When a child hits a certain age, pacifiers become more harmful than good. They start affecting your child's teeth and could make them quite uncomfortable. Besides, getting them off can be problematic when a child grows and is used to a pacifier. This is why you need to implement ways of getting it off them. Experts advise that a child stop using pacifiers once they reach four years. When they approach this age, you should find a way of gradually weaning them. This is helpful because they will start getting used to it slowly.
Most babies cling to pacifiers because they are comforting. This is why you need to be cautious with the weaning process. For instance, you can do so by gradually limiting the use of pacifiers. This is a better approach instead of stopping just once. However, you should have other ways of soothing your baby to prevent discomfort. For example, you can start playing soothing music to distract your child. You can also cuddle them before they sleep.
Dangers of Pacifiers
If you continue using pacifiers for far too long, your child could develop oral conditions like "pacifier teeth." This condition will negatively impact the baby's dental formula and affect tooth eruption. Besides, it could make teeth crooked and slanted. Therefore, it is vital to stop using pacifiers on time to avoid damage. Get in touch with us for more information on pacifiers and their effects.
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Pacifiers are very important for babies. They help soothe your baby and distract them from dental discomfort. However, using pacifiers for too long can affect your baby's oral health. For instance, prolonged use can make your child have an irregularly shaped mouth. This could force you to provide them with orthodontic care during their growth. Therefore, it is vital to know when your child should stop using pacifiers.