There has been much debate on whether or not a baby should be given a pacifier and for how long. A baby starts sucking on his or her fingers before it is even born. Using a pacifier can have both positive and negative effects. The positives are that it helps to keep the baby calm, it has a relaxing effect, and it is believed to help reduce the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.<\/p>\n
The negative effects of a baby using a pacifier include:<\/p>\n
Top teeth that slant outwards
\nBottom teeth that slant inwards
\nMisalignment of the top and bottom jaws
\nMalformation of the roof of the mouth
\nDelay the falling out of the baby teeth<\/p>\n
During the first two years of a child\u2019s life, using a pacifier won\u2019t really affect the growth of their permanent teeth. It is a good idea to have a baby\u2019s teeth checked regularly by a dentist to make sure that they are developing correctly. To schedule an appointment with a dentist at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-6980.<\/p>\n
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.<\/strong> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There has been much debate on whether or not a baby should be given a pacifier and for how long. A baby starts sucking on his or her fingers before it is even born. Using a pacifier can have both … Continue reading