How Old is Too Old for Kids to Use a Pacifier?
EAGAN AND St. Paul, MINNESOTA – Recent photos of 4-year-old Suri Cruise- daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes- using a pacifier have sparked debate over how old is too old, and Eagan and St. Paul orthodontist Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth has weighed in on the subject.
“It’s important to remember that sucking is a natural reflex in infants, and many babies suck their thumbs in the womb,” says Dr. Eisenhuth, a St. Paul orthodontics expert. “But prolonged thumb sucking and pacifier use can lead to problems with teeth alignment, as well as issues relative to the roof of the mouth.”
Continued pacifier use can cause your child’s top front teeth to tip outward, or cause them to not come in properly, which could result in the need for orthodontic treatment down the road. There also is some evidence that pacifier use can lead to more middle ear infections in your child, according to information from Mayo Clinic.
“Parents who are concerned about ear infections should wean children from the pacifier at around six months of age,” says Dr. Eisenhuth, who also is a St. Paul Incognito braces provider. She adds that most children stop using pacifiers on their own between ages 2 and 4.
Until then, if you give your child a pacifier, never dip it in sugar, honey or other sweeteners, says the St.Paul braces specialist.
Back to the Suri Cruise topic, Dr. Eisenhuth says although age 4 is a bit old to be using a pacifier, given a choice, it is better to use a pacifier than for a child to suck her thumb.
“With that said, however, in a situation where a child is almost 5 years old and still using a pacifier, it may be time for the parents to step in and help break that habit, says the St. Paul Invisalign specialist.
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