{"id":13393,"date":"2020-03-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/?page_id=13393"},"modified":"2025-07-30T19:46:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T18:46:20","slug":"pacifier-teeth","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/pacifier-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Using a Pacifier Damage Teeth? Risks to Your Baby, Causes, and Treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Parents have been relying on <strong>newborn pacifiers<\/strong> to calm their kids for a long time. Also known as \u2018soothers\u2019, \u2018binkys\u2019, \u2018Dodies\u2019, or \u2018teethers\u2019, these pacifiers are silicone or plastic nipples that are given to an infant to suck on. But are pacifiers really a good idea? Some experts say no, and one of the primary reasons for this is pacifier teeth.<\/p> <p>As a parent, of course you want to do the right thing for your child. So, in this article, we\u2019ll answer the following questions:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>What are pacifier teeth?<\/li> <li>Are they reversible?<\/li> <li>Is it ok to give a pacifier to your newborn?<\/li> <\/ul> <p>Keep reading to get answers to all of these questions and make smart decisions when it comes to using pacifiers for your little ones. And have a look at our entire collection of articles dedicated to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dental care for babies and children<\/a>.<\/p> <h2 id=\"what-are-pacifier-teeth\" \"what-are-pacifier-teeth\"class =\"wp-block-heading\">What are pacifier teeth?<\/h2> <p><strong>Pacifier teeth<\/strong> refers to a condition that occurs from the prolonged use of pacifiers. The teeth of a baby start developing in the womb and continue to develop and grow throughout their childhood. During this time, anything kept in a baby\u2019s mouth for prolonged periods can negatively affect their oral and dental development.<\/p> <div class=\"wp-block-image\"> <figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14077\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/baby-with-pacifier.jpg\" alt=\"pacifier teeth\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Find out about pacifier teeth<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div> <h2 id=\"why-are-pacifier-teeth-such-a-big-deal\" \"why-are-pacifier-teeth-such-a-big-deal\"class =\"wp-block-heading\">Why are pacifier teeth such a big deal?<\/h2> <p>Just like babies sucking their thumbs can lead to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/childrens-oral-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"oral problems (opens in a new tab)\">oral problems in childhood<\/a>, pacifiers could also end up harming their mouths more than benefitting them, especially when used for too long. As per the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ada.org\/~\/media\/ADA\/Publications\/Files\/patient_77.ashx?_ga=2.188663339.262692945.1584347946-1030798069.1579123435\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">American Dental Association<\/a>, using pacifiers can lead to a handful of side effects that include:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Crooked or crowded teeth<\/li> <li>Jaw misalignment<\/li> <li>Problems with biting<\/li> <li>Protrusion of the tongue<\/li> <li>Changes in the roof of the mouth<\/li> <li>Change in the position of teeth<\/li> <\/ul> <p>In other words, using a <strong>newborn pacifier<\/strong> has multiple potential side effects for a baby\u2019s teeth. Sometimes, pacifiers may even necessitate the use of braces in the future.<\/p> <p>This raises important questions for many parents to consider: Why use a pacifier at all? Should I use one with my baby? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p> <h2 id=\"pros-and-cons-of-using-pacifiers\" \"pros-and-cons-of-using-pacifiers\"class =\"wp-block-heading\">Pros and cons of using pacifiers<\/h2> <p>Despite what most people believe about pacifiers, it is important that you make your own decision. To do this, it can help to familiarize yourself with the common advantages and disadvantages of these soothing tools.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The pros<\/h3> <p>For many parents with a newborn or an infant at home, pacifiers can be a favorite go-to accessory. Pacifiers successfully help countless adults calm distressed children.<\/p> <p>There are also some indications that pacifiers can be good for babies. Many rely on this tool to calm their children and let them go to sleep peacefully. In fact, up to 75 percent of babies in the West are said to use pacifiers at some point in their lives.<\/p> <p>Despite a high risk of <strong>pacifier teeth damage<\/strong>, these tools are a key to contentment for many babies between mealtimes. Consider the following advantages of using a pacifier in children.<\/p> <p>A pacifier can:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Calm a fussy baby.<\/li> <li>Act as a temporary distraction.<\/li> <li>Distract a child after a painful procedure such as a blood test or vaccine shots.<\/li> <li>Help your child fall asleep.<\/li> <li>Make airplane travel easier for babies.<\/li> <li>Be thrown away; <strong>babies sucking <strong>\u00a0a thumb or their<\/strong> fingers<\/strong> have a harder time stopping because you can\u2019t get rid of a finger!<\/li> <\/ul> <p>In addition to these benefits, some studies also suggest that a pacifier used before falling asleep reduces the <strong>risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).<\/strong> Sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, is the most common cause of fatalities in babies between the ages of 1 month to 1 year. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/pediatrics.aappublications.org\/content\/138\/5\/e20162938\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a> (AAP), pacifiers can reduce the risk of SIDS even after the pacifier falls out of the baby\u2019s mouth once they fall asleep.<\/p> <p>Have a look at the top eight Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of pacifier use:<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"> <div style=\"display: contents;\"> <div id=\"arve-youtube-verarfqktsi\" class=\"arve\" data-mode=\"normal\" data-oembed=\"1\" data-provider=\"youtube\"> <div class=\"arve-inner\"> <div class=\"arve-embed arve-embed--has-aspect-ratio\"> <div class=\"arve-ar\" style=\"padding-top: 56.250000%;\"><\/div> <p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"arve-iframe fitvidsignore\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/verArFqktsI?feature=oembed&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;autohide=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;autoplay=0\" name=\"\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-arve=\"arve-youtube-verarfqktsi\" data-lenis-prevent=\"\" data-src-no-ap=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/verArFqktsI?feature=oembed&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;autohide=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;autoplay=0\"><\/iframe><\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/figure> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The cons<\/h3> <p>Despite being a lifesaver for many sleep-deprived parents, pacifiers still have certain problems. These disadvantages are mentioned below and should be considered while deciding whether you want your child to use a pacifier or not.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>May cause nipple confusion in breastfed babies<\/li> <li>Your child may become dependent on the pacifier<\/li> <li>Increased risk of <strong>ear infections<\/strong><\/li> <li>Increased risk of dental problems like pacifier teeth and misaligned teeth, which could later lead to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/braces-for-kids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">braces for kids<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <p>Mentioned below are the benefits and risks of using a pacifier in children of different age groups, according to this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semanticscholar.org\/paper\/Risks-and-benefits-of-pacifiers.-Sexton-Natale\/69322d9364e457bb84c844579df6de7758183da8\/figure\/0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">study.<\/a><\/p> <div class=\"wptb-table-container wptb-table-40802\"> <div id=\"wptb-table-id-40802\" class=\"wptb-table-container-matrix\" data-wptb-version=\"2.0.2\" data-wptb-pro-status=\"true\"> <table class=\"wptb-preview-table wptb-element-main-table_setting-40802 edit-active\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" role=\"table\" data-reconstraction=\"1\" data-wptb-table-tds-sum-max-width=\"393.98148000000003\" data-wptb-cells-width-auto-count=\"3\" data-wptb-table-directives=\"eyJpbm5lckJvcmRlcnMiOnsiYWN0aXZlIjoiYWxsIiwiYm9yZGVyV2lkdGgiOiIxIiwiYm9yZGVyUmFkaXVzZXMiOnsiYWxsIjpmYWxzZX19fQ==\" data-wptb-extra-styles=\"LyogRW50ZXIgeW91ciBjdXN0b20gQ1NTIHJ1bGVzIGhlcmUgKi8=\" data-table-columns=\"3\"> <tbody> <tr class=\"wptb-row\"> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"0\" data-x-index=\"0\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-31\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>Age<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"0\" data-x-index=\"1\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-32\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>Potential benefits<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"0\" data-x-index=\"2\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-33\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>Potential complications<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <tr class=\"wptb-row\"> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"1\" data-x-index=\"0\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-34\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>Pretern infants<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"1\" data-x-index=\"1\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-35\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>Pain relief, decreased hospital stay, improved bottle feeding performance<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"1\" data-x-index=\"2\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-36\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>None<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <tr class=\"wptb-row\"> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"2\" data-x-index=\"0\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-37\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>Up to 6 months<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"2\" data-x-index=\"1\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-38\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>Pain relief, reduced risk of SIDS<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"2\" data-x-index=\"2\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-39\"> <div class=\"\"> <p>Early breast weaning<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <tr class=\"wptb-row\"> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"3\" data-x-index=\"0\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-40\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>6 months \u2013 2 years<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"3\" data-x-index=\"1\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-41\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>None<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"3\" data-x-index=\"2\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-42\"> <div class=\"\"> <p>Ear infection<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <tr class=\"wptb-row\"> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"4\" data-x-index=\"0\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-43\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>2+ years<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"4\" data-x-index=\"1\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-44\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>None<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <td class=\"wptb-cell\" style=\"border: 1px solid #d1d1d1;\" data-y-index=\"4\" data-x-index=\"2\" data-wptb-css-td-auto-width=\"true\"> <div class=\"wptb-text-container wptb-ph-element wptb-element-text-45\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"> <div class=\"\" style=\"position: relative;\"> <p>Dental malocclusion<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div> <div class=\"wptb-frontend-table-after\"><\/div> <\/div> <h2 id=\"using-a-pacifier-safely\" \"using-a-pacifier-safely\"class =\"wp-block-heading\">Using a pacifier safely<\/h2> <p>If you do decide to give your child a pacifier, here are some ways you can use it safely and stop them becoming too dependent on it:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Don\u2019t ever force your child to use a pacifier. If they are asleep and it falls out without waking up the baby, do not attempt to put it back in.<\/li> <li>Never coat the pacifier with anything, for example, sugar or honey, just to encourage the baby to use it.<\/li> <li>Buy orthodontic pacifiers which are specially shaped to reduce the chances of pushing teeth forward.<\/li> <li>Do not add a ribbon or a tie to the pacifier. Moreover, do not tie it to the cot or around your child as this increases the risk of accidental strangulation.<\/li> <li>Always try alternative methods to calm your baby before using a pacifier.<\/li> <li>When they start learning to talk, encourage them to remove the pacifier and speak rather than grunting or pointing.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 id=\"pacifiers-and-emotional-comfort\" \"pacifiers-and-emotional-comfort\"class =\"wp-block-heading\">Pacifiers and emotional comfort<\/h2> <p>Many experts ask parents to break the <strong>pacifier habit<\/strong> sooner rather than later. This is because, besides oral health issues, it can become a source of emotional comfort in many children.<\/p> <p>If your baby has gone through the reflexive sucking stage of using a pacifier and still refuses to leave it (after age 6 months to 1 year), chances are they have developed an emotional attachment to it. In these circumstances, breaking the pacifier habit can be quite difficult.<\/p> <div class=\"wp-block-image\"> <figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13432\" style=\"width: 300px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/Depositphotos_166741316_s-2019-1.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/Depositphotos_166741316_s-2019-1.jpg 999w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/Depositphotos_166741316_s-2019-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/Depositphotos_166741316_s-2019-1-768x513.jpg 768w\" alt=\"Child sleeping with a pacifier in mouth\" width=\"999\" height=\"667\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pacifiers are great for baby\u2019s emotional support, but they should be stopped completely at 2 years of age<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div> <p>If your child has already found emotional comfort in a pacifier, do not worry. It is never too late to make things right. There are many <a href=\"https:\/\/parenting.nytimes.com\/childrens-health\/how-to-get-rid-of-pacifier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online resources<\/a> that can help break the habit of finding comfort in a pacifier.<\/p> <h2 id=\"questions-to-ask-your-doctor-regarding-pacifiers\" \"questions-to-ask-your-doctor-regarding-pacifiers\"class =\"wp-block-heading\">Questions to ask your doctor regarding pacifiers<\/h2> <p>Here are some of the questions you should ask your doctor regarding pacifiers:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Will my baby get a pacifier from the hospital when they are born?<\/li> <li>Are hospital pacifiers safe?<\/li> <li>Is the plastic used to make the pacifier toxic?<\/li> <li>Is it unkind to let the baby cry while weaning them from pacifiers?<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 id=\"stopping-pacifier-use\" \"stopping-pacifier-use\"class =\"wp-block-heading\">Stopping pacifier use<\/h2> <p>Does your baby use a pacifier too much? Are you afraid they are going to develop pacifier teeth? There are certain ways to get rid of the pacifier habit. Some of these tips are mentioned below.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Gradually limit pacifier use (only in the house, only in the crib. etc.)<\/li> <li>For toddlers, offer a special toy or prize in exchange for the pacifier.<\/li> <li>Provide another source of comfort like a blanket or stuffed animal.<\/li> <li>Try the \u2018cold turkey\u2019 approach and immediately take it away, but use positive reinforcement.<\/li> <li>Make sure all of Baby\u2019s caregivers are on board with the weaning plan.<\/li> <li>Be prepared for tears, but remember that giving the pacifier back after crying will reinforce to the child that the reward for crying is the pacifier.<\/li> <\/ul> <div class=\"wp-block-image\"> <figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13434\" style=\"width: 300px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/Depositphotos_193517726_s-2019.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/Depositphotos_193517726_s-2019.jpg 999w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/Depositphotos_193517726_s-2019-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/Depositphotos_193517726_s-2019-768x513.jpg 768w\" alt=\"Child sucking a pacifier\" width=\"999\" height=\"667\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A pacifier is not inherently bad, but its prolonged use can lead to oral health problems.<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div> <p>The most suitable time to stop pacifier use in children to avoid pacifier teeth can be determined with the help of a doctor. In most cases, parents tend to break the habit between 6 months to 1 year of age. The use of a pacifier is discouraged in children above the age of 4 years.<\/p> <h2 id=\"conclusion\" \"conclusion\"class =\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2> <p>Pacifiers are a great way to calm a crying baby, but there is a proper place and time to use them before they become more harmful than useful. In addition to learning about the pros and cons, it\u2019s not a bad idea to speak with a dentist about your concerns. Remember, pacifiers can lead to several problems like the development of pacifier teeth which can only be reversed with proper medical care.<\/p> <p>The dentist can keep an eye on the dental health of your child as they grow, and make sure that they can use pacifiers without developing pacifier teeth.<\/p> <h2 id=\"faqs\" \"faqs\"class =\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will pacifier teeth correct themselves?<\/h3> <p>The simple answer is no. Once your baby has developed pacifier teeth, there is no way to correct themselves naturally. Almost every case requires proper medical intervention and correction. Prevention is the best cure in this scenario.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it okay for my baby to have a pacifier during sleep?<\/h3> <p>Even if your baby is not crying, using a pacifier can help them go to sleep faster, which ultimately means more sleep for the parent too. However, this practice risks accidental swallowing and choking. So, be extremely cautious if you are giving your baby a pacifier at night.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u00a0Should I coat the pacifier with candy?<\/h3> <p>Absolutely not. Just think about it: You are giving your little one something covered in sugar and allowing them to suck on it for a long duration of time. This can lead to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/tooth-decay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"tooth decay (opens in a new tab)\">tooth decay<\/a>. Tooth decay is something parents and babies certainly don\u2019t want or need. So, avoid coating it with anything and never force your child to use it when they don\u2019t want to.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When should children stop using pacifiers?<\/h3> <p>According to both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semanticscholar.org\/paper\/A-comprehensive-review-of-evidence-and-current-to-Nelson\/b3a9626cb7bea2edc7ef697c038b0c7a3dd12645\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">AADP and ADA<\/a>, the use of pacifier must be actively discouraged, either gradually or cold turkey, in children as soon as they reach the age of 4 years, if not sooner.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How often should you replace a pacifier?<\/h3> <p>While there is no fixed answer to this question, it is generally advised to check the pacifier before giving it to your baby every time. It must be thrown away as soon as you detect the first signs of weakness or damage. As a rule of thumb, most experts advise changing the pacifier <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2791560\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"every two months (opens in a new tab)\">every two months<\/a> in order to maintain good hygiene.<\/p> <div class=\"socials_share\"> <ul class=\"share-buttons\"> <li class=\"share_item share_item-facebook\"><\/li> <li class=\"share_item share_item-twitter\"><\/li> <li class=\"share_item share_item-whatsapp-web\"><\/li> <li class=\"share_item share_item-common\"><\/li> <\/ul> <p><script>\n    document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(event) {\n        var tempInput = jQuery('<input type=\"text\">');\n        var curUrl = jQuery(location).attr('href');\n        var shareButton = jQuery('.share-copy-link');\n        shareButton.on('click', function (e) {\n            e.preventDefault();\n            if (navigator.share) {\n                navigator.share({\n                    title: 'Dentaly.org | Your Oral Healthcare Portal',\n                    url: curUrl\n                }).then(() => {\n                    console.log('Thanks for sharing!');\n                }).catch(console.error);\n            } else {\n                jQuery('body').append(tempInput);\n                tempInput.val(curUrl).select();\n                document.execCommand('copy');\n                tempInput.remove();\n                jQuery(this).attr('data-state', 'Link is copied').addClass('copied');\n                setTimeout(function () {\n                    jQuery('.share-copy-link').removeClass('copied');\n                }, 8000);\n            }\n        });\n    });\n<\/script><\/p> <\/div> <p><!--copyscapeskip--><\/p> <div class=\"medical-references\"> <div class=\"medical-references__heading\">Sources<\/div> <div class=\"medical-references__list\"> <p><strong>American family physician<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semanticscholar.org\/paper\/Risks-and-benefits-of-pacifiers.-Sexton-Natale\/69322d9364e457bb84c844579df6de7758183da8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Risks and benefits of pacifiers<\/a>. Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>Journal of pediatric nursing:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.semanticscholar.org\/paper\/A-comprehensive-review-of-evidence-and-current-to-Nelson\/b3a9626cb7bea2edc7ef697c038b0c7a3dd12645\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A comprehensive review of evidence and current recommendations related to pacifier usage.\u00a0<\/a> Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>University of Rochester, Medical Center<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/encyclopedia\/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&amp;ContentID=981&amp;_ga=2.140949298.1676015836.1583165217-1070936876.1576313469\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to use a pacifier<\/a>. Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>Pediatrics journal:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pediatrics.aappublications.org\/content\/138\/5\/e20162938\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment<\/a>. Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/jpc.12402\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dummy (pacifier) use and sudden infant death syndrome: Potential advantages and disadvantages<\/a>. Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>American Dental Association: <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ada.org\/~\/media\/ADA\/Publications\/Files\/patient_77.ashx?_ga=2.188663339.262692945.1584347946-1030798069.1579123435\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thumb sucking and pacifier use. <\/a>Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>NCBI:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2791560\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pacifiers (soothers): A user\u2019s guide for parents<\/a>. Consulted 20 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>Parenting.nytimes.com:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/parenting.nytimes.com\/childrens-health\/how-to-get-rid-of-pacifier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Ditch the Pacifier<\/a>. Consulted 20 March 2020.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <p><!--\/copyscapeskip--><\/p> <p><!-- Schema.org VideoObject added\/managed by schema_updater script --><br \/> <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n  \"embedUrl\": \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/verArFqktsI?feature=oembed&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&autohide=1&playsinline=0&autoplay=0\",\n  \"name\": \"8 Pacifier Do's & Don'ts | Baby Development\",\n  \"description\": \"8 Pacifier Do's & Don'ts | Baby Development\",\n  \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/verArFqktsI\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n  \"uploadDate\": \"2025-04-14T12:00:00Z\",\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\"\n}\n<\/script><br \/> <!-- End schema_updater script --><\/p> <div class=\"socials_share\"> <ul class=\"share-buttons\"> <li class=\"share_item share_item-facebook\">         <a class=\"share_link share-facebook\"            href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer?u=https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/pacifier-teeth\/&amp;t=Can+Using+a+Pacifier+Damage+Teeth%3F+Risks+to+Your+Baby%2C+Causes%2C+and+Treatments\"            target=\"_blank\"            rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"            title=\"Share to Facebook\"            onclick=\"window.open(this.href,'facebook-share','width=580,height=296');return false;\"><br \/>             <svg width=\"30\" height=\"31\" viewbox=\"0 0 30 31\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">                 <rect y=\"0.194702\" width=\"30\" height=\"30\" rx=\"2\" fill=\"#4267B2\"\/>                 <path d=\"M13.0479 23.4202C12.9455 23.4202 12.6409 23.4197 12.432 23.2037C12.2626 23.029 12.243 22.8015 12.243 22.6458C12.2523 20.6126 12.2508 18.5806 12.2495 16.5483L12.2489 15.6189V15.6158C12.2427 15.6158 12.2368 15.6158 12.2308 15.6158L11.8509 15.6152L10.6452 15.6158V12.0132L11.7258 12.0147C11.8307 12.0147 11.9347 12.0144 12.039 12.0135L12.134 12.0132L12.248 12.0138C12.248 11.9597 12.2486 11.8992 12.2498 11.8304L12.2511 11.7639C12.2614 11.2385 12.2723 10.6949 12.3034 10.1583C12.4021 8.46772 13.7779 7.15315 15.5749 7.03252C16.2603 6.98761 16.9544 6.98329 17.6252 6.97926C17.95 6.97725 18.2748 6.97524 18.5995 6.9689H18.6017C18.8303 6.9689 18.9931 7.02619 19.114 7.13876C19.3021 7.3141 19.3002 7.55132 19.2996 7.62963C19.2933 8.25035 19.2877 9.06742 19.3011 9.88679C19.3052 10.0952 19.2423 10.2622 19.1146 10.3826C18.9231 10.5628 18.6631 10.5628 18.5777 10.5628C18.0041 10.5556 17.5255 10.5582 17.0105 10.5625C16.786 10.5639 16.7489 10.5982 16.7449 10.8066C16.7411 10.9984 16.7417 11.1895 16.7427 11.3807C16.7433 11.5923 16.7439 11.8042 16.7393 12.0158C17.1948 12.0086 17.642 12.0109 18.092 12.0135L19.2731 12.0153L19.3235 12.359C19.3267 12.3815 19.3307 12.401 19.3344 12.4189C19.346 12.4768 19.3603 12.5487 19.3528 12.6351C19.3248 12.923 19.2961 13.2063 19.2675 13.4896C19.2146 14.0124 19.1616 14.535 19.1155 15.0578C19.1009 15.2254 19.0056 15.6161 18.4401 15.6161L18.2498 15.6155L17.3863 15.6184C17.1693 15.6184 16.9519 15.6166 16.7355 15.6114C16.7433 17.7575 16.7417 19.9041 16.7399 22.0527L16.7396 22.5683C16.7396 23.2311 16.5465 23.413 15.8415 23.4148L14.2677 23.4113C13.8741 23.4113 13.4805 23.4133 13.0869 23.4202L13.0489 23.4205L13.0479 23.4202Z\"                       fill=\"white\"\/>             <\/svg><br \/>         <\/a>     <\/li> <li class=\"share_item share_item-twitter\">         <a class=\"share_link share-twitter\"            href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Can+Using+a+Pacifier+Damage+Teeth%3F+Risks+to+Your+Baby%2C+Causes%2C+and+Treatments&amp;url=https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/pacifier-teeth\/\"            rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"            arget=\"_blank\"            title=\"Share to Twitter\"            onclick=\"window.open(this.href,'twitter-share','width=580,height=296');return false;\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>             <svg width=\"31\" height=\"31\" viewbox=\"0 0 31 31\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">                 <rect x=\"0.194702\" y=\"0.194702\" width=\"30\" height=\"30\" rx=\"2\" fill=\"#22ABE9\"\/>                 <path d=\"M7.33932 22.3271C8.84491 23.0526 10.4272 23.4205 12.0504 23.4205H12.0514C17.2023 23.4202 22.644 19.4411 23.0785 11.8383C23.1172 11.1913 23.2438 10.5148 23.9054 9.94447C24.0772 9.79603 24.2332 9.62309 24.3882 9.43595L22.6351 9.90221L24.0389 7.80671C23.76 7.91857 23.481 8.03042 23.2038 8.14335C22.6579 8.36458 22.1906 8.27722 21.6767 7.85393C20.4451 6.83726 19.1047 6.69486 17.7456 7.43527C16.3857 8.17496 15.7162 9.40754 15.7562 11.0989C15.7631 11.4128 15.7406 11.7687 15.5126 12.0208C15.3094 12.2449 15.0364 12.318 14.5834 12.2502C11.7004 11.817 9.25204 10.4576 7.30694 8.20904C7.28811 8.18774 7.27059 8.16573 7.25373 8.143C6.65989 9.29924 6.98837 10.7154 8.29502 12.8276L8.87002 13.7566L7.6136 13.4526C7.3955 13.4 7.1893 13.3503 6.9778 13.2988C7.2273 14.8336 8.05477 15.8528 9.60133 16.5598L11.0914 17.2416L8.5888 17.5136C8.87102 18.3325 9.50253 18.84 11.5742 19.8037L12.2212 20.1049L11.6631 20.5683C10.2864 21.7121 8.76725 22.1478 7.33932 22.3271Z\"                       fill=\"white\"\/>             <\/svg><br \/>         <\/a>     <\/li> <li class=\"share_item share_item-whatsapp-web\">         <a class=\"share_link share-whatsapp-web\" href=\"https:\/\/web.whatsapp.com\/send?text=https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/pacifier-teeth\/\"            onclick=\"window.open(this.href,'whatsapp-share','width=780,height=400');return false;\"            title=\"Share to WhatsApp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>             <svg width=\"31\" height=\"31\" viewbox=\"0 0 31 31\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">                 <rect width=\"31\" height=\"31\" rx=\"2\" fill=\"url(#paint0_linear)\"\/>                 <path d=\"M22.4549 7.08199C20.4262 5.0533 17.7213 3.93445 14.8443 3.93445C8.91803 3.93445 4.08607 8.75412 4.08607 14.6926C4.08607 16.5861 4.57787 18.4426 5.52459 20.0656L4 25.6353L9.70492 24.1353C11.2787 24.9959 13.0492 25.4385 14.8443 25.4385C20.7705 25.4385 25.6025 20.6189 25.6025 14.6803C25.6025 11.8156 24.4959 9.12297 22.4549 7.08199ZM14.8566 23.6312C13.2459 23.6312 11.6721 23.2008 10.3074 22.3894L9.97541 22.1926L6.59426 23.0779L7.4918 19.7828L7.28279 19.4385C6.38525 18.0123 5.91803 16.3648 5.91803 14.6803C5.91803 9.75002 9.92623 5.74182 14.8566 5.74182C17.2418 5.74182 19.4918 6.67625 21.1762 8.36068C22.8607 10.0451 23.7951 12.2951 23.7951 14.6803C23.7828 19.623 19.7746 23.6312 14.8566 23.6312ZM19.75 16.9426C19.4795 16.8074 18.1639 16.1558 17.918 16.0697C17.6721 15.9836 17.4877 15.9345 17.3156 16.2049C17.1311 16.4754 16.6271 17.0779 16.4672 17.2623C16.3074 17.4467 16.1598 17.459 15.8893 17.3238C15.6189 17.1885 14.7582 16.9058 13.7254 15.9959C12.9262 15.2828 12.3852 14.3976 12.2254 14.1394C12.0656 13.8689 12.2131 13.7213 12.3484 13.5861C12.4713 13.4631 12.6189 13.2664 12.7541 13.1189C12.8893 12.959 12.9385 12.8484 13.0246 12.6763C13.1107 12.4918 13.0738 12.3443 13 12.209C12.9385 12.0738 12.3975 10.7459 12.1762 10.2172C11.9549 9.68855 11.7336 9.76232 11.5738 9.75002C11.4139 9.73773 11.2418 9.73772 11.0574 9.73772C10.873 9.73772 10.5902 9.7992 10.3443 10.0697C10.0984 10.3402 9.39754 10.9918 9.39754 12.3074C9.39754 13.6353 10.3566 14.9017 10.4918 15.0861C10.627 15.2705 12.3852 17.9754 15.0779 19.1435C15.7172 19.4262 16.2213 19.5861 16.6148 19.709C17.2541 19.9181 17.8443 19.8812 18.3115 19.8197C18.8279 19.7459 19.8975 19.1681 20.1311 18.541C20.3525 17.914 20.3525 17.373 20.291 17.2623C20.2049 17.1394 20.0205 17.0656 19.75 16.9426Z\"                       fill=\"white\"\/>                 <defs>                     <lineargradient id=\"paint0_linear\" x1=\"15.0001\" y1=\"-0.0101066\" x2=\"15.0001\" y2=\"29.9855\"                                     gradientunits=\"userSpaceOnUse\">                         <stop stop-color=\"#61FD7D\"\/>                         <stop offset=\"1\" stop-color=\"#2BB826\"\/>                     <\/lineargradient>                 <\/defs>             <\/svg><br \/>         <\/a>     <\/li> <li class=\"share_item share_item-common\">         <a href=\"#\" class=\"share_link share-copy-link\" id=\"share-copy-link\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>             <svg width=\"30\" height=\"30\" viewbox=\"0 0 30 30\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">                 <rect width=\"30\" height=\"30\" rx=\"2\" fill=\"#00D4DD\"\/>                 <path d=\"M15.8313 13.6488C14.5411 12.3741 12.4442 12.3813 11.145 13.665L7.55841 17.2089C6.25927 18.4926 6.25204 20.5645 7.54226 21.8392C8.83248 23.114 10.9294 23.1067 12.2285 21.8231L15.0358 19.0158\"                       stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\"\/>                 <path d=\"M13.993 15.3983C15.2832 16.6731 17.3802 16.6658 18.6793 15.3821L22.2659 11.8382C23.5651 10.5545 23.5723 8.48268 22.2821 7.20792C20.9918 5.93316 18.8949 5.94039 17.5958 7.22408L14.7688 10.0511\"                       stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\"\/>             <\/svg><br \/>         <\/a>     <\/li> <\/ul> <p><script>\n    document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(event) {\n        var tempInput = jQuery('<input type=\"text\">');\n        var curUrl = jQuery(location).attr('href');\n        var shareButton = jQuery('.share-copy-link');\n        shareButton.on('click', function (e) {\n            e.preventDefault();\n            if (navigator.share) {\n                navigator.share({\n                    title: 'Dentaly.org | Your Oral Healthcare Portal',\n                    url: curUrl\n                }).then(() => {\n                    console.log('Thanks for sharing!');\n                }).catch(console.error);\n            } else {\n                jQuery('body').append(tempInput);\n                tempInput.val(curUrl).select();\n                document.execCommand('copy');\n                tempInput.remove();\n                jQuery(this).attr('data-state', 'Link is copied').addClass('copied');\n                setTimeout(function () {\n                    jQuery('.share-copy-link').removeClass('copied');\n                }, 8000);\n            }\n        });\n    });\n<\/script><\/p> <\/div> <p><!--copyscapeskip--><\/p> <div class=\"medical-references\"> <div class=\"medical-references__heading\"><span>Sources<\/span><\/div> <div class=\"medical-references__list\"> <p><strong>American family physician<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semanticscholar.org\/paper\/Risks-and-benefits-of-pacifiers.-Sexton-Natale\/69322d9364e457bb84c844579df6de7758183da8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Risks and benefits of pacifiers<\/a>. Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>Journal of pediatric nursing:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.semanticscholar.org\/paper\/A-comprehensive-review-of-evidence-and-current-to-Nelson\/b3a9626cb7bea2edc7ef697c038b0c7a3dd12645\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A comprehensive review of evidence and current recommendations related to pacifier usage.\u00a0<\/a> Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>University of Rochester, Medical Center<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/encyclopedia\/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&amp;ContentID=981&amp;_ga=2.140949298.1676015836.1583165217-1070936876.1576313469\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to use a pacifier<\/a>. Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>Pediatrics journal:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pediatrics.aappublications.org\/content\/138\/5\/e20162938\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment<\/a>. Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/jpc.12402\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dummy (pacifier) use and sudden infant death syndrome: Potential advantages and disadvantages<\/a>. Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>American Dental Association: <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ada.org\/~\/media\/ADA\/Publications\/Files\/patient_77.ashx?_ga=2.188663339.262692945.1584347946-1030798069.1579123435\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thumb sucking and pacifier use. <\/a>Consulted 5 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>NCBI:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2791560\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pacifiers (soothers): A user&#8217;s guide for parents<\/a>. Consulted 20 March 2020.<\/p> <p><strong>Parenting.nytimes.com:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/parenting.nytimes.com\/childrens-health\/how-to-get-rid-of-pacifier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Ditch the Pacifier<\/a>. Consulted 20 March 2020.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <p><!--\/copyscapeskip--><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Parents have been relying on newborn pacifiers to calm their kids for a long time. Also known as \u2018soothers\u2019, \u2018binkys\u2019, \u2018Dodies\u2019, or \u2018teethers\u2019, these pacifiers are silicone or plastic nipples that are given to an infant to suck on. But are pacifiers really a good idea? Some experts say no, and one of the primary &#8230; <a title=\"Can Using a Pacifier Damage Teeth? Risks to Your Baby, Causes, and Treatments\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/pacifier-teeth\/\">Read more <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Can Using a Pacifier Damage Teeth? Risks to Your Baby, Causes, and Treatments<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":14079,"parent":8739,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6945],"tags":[],"coauthors":[6986],"class_list":["post-13393","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","category-babies-kids-category"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pacifier Teeth: Causes, Risks, Prevention and Treatments - Dentaly.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A pacifier works like a charm to calm a crying baby, but pacifier use always comes with the risk of developing pacifier teeth. So should you use one?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pacifier Teeth: Causes, Risks, Prevention and Treatments - Dentaly.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A pacifier works like a charm to calm a crying baby, but pacifier use always comes with the risk of developing pacifier teeth. So should you use one?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/pacifier-teeth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Dentaly.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dentaly.org\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-30T18:46:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/dad-and-baby-pacifier-feat-image.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"790\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"415\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@dentaly_site\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/babies-children\\\/pacifier-teeth\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/16\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/dad-and-baby-pacifier-feat-image.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/16\\\/2020\\\/03\\\/dad-and-baby-pacifier-feat-image.jpg\",\"width\":790,\"height\":415,\"caption\":\"Pacifier Teeth\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/babies-children\\\/pacifier-teeth\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Dental Care for Babies and Children: Taking Care of Your Child&#8217;s Mouth\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/babies-children\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Pacifier Teeth\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/\",\"name\":\"Dentaly.org\",\"description\":\"Your Oral Healthcare Portal\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Dentaly.org\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/16\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/dentaly-logo.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/16\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/dentaly-logo.svg\",\"width\":561,\"height\":144,\"caption\":\"Dentaly.org\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.dentaly.org\\\/us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/dentaly.org\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/dentaly_site\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/dentaly-org\\\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Pacifier Teeth: Causes, Risks, Prevention and Treatments - Dentaly.org","description":"A pacifier works like a charm to calm a crying baby, but pacifier use always comes with the risk of developing pacifier teeth. So should you use one?","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Pacifier Teeth: Causes, Risks, Prevention and Treatments - Dentaly.org","og_description":"A pacifier works like a charm to calm a crying baby, but pacifier use always comes with the risk of developing pacifier teeth. So should you use one?","og_url":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/pacifier-teeth\/","og_site_name":"Dentaly.org","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dentaly.org\/","article_modified_time":"2025-07-30T18:46:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":790,"height":415,"url":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/dad-and-baby-pacifier-feat-image.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@dentaly_site","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/pacifier-teeth\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/dad-and-baby-pacifier-feat-image.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2020\/03\/dad-and-baby-pacifier-feat-image.jpg","width":790,"height":415,"caption":"Pacifier Teeth"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/pacifier-teeth\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Dental Care for Babies and Children: Taking Care of Your Child&#8217;s Mouth","item":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Pacifier Teeth"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/","name":"Dentaly.org","description":"Your Oral Healthcare Portal","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/#organization","name":"Dentaly.org","url":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2024\/09\/dentaly-logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2024\/09\/dentaly-logo.svg","width":561,"height":144,"caption":"Dentaly.org"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dentaly.org\/","https:\/\/x.com\/dentaly_site","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/dentaly-org\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/139"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13393"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13393\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82005,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13393\/revisions\/82005"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8739"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13393"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=13393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}