Pacifier use can lead to dental issues like misaligned teeth if used routinely over long periods of time. As a child's mouth develops, constant pacifier use can cause the teeth to tip forward or cause overbites and underbites. However, these dental issues can be prevented by weaning children from pacifiers at an early age. It is important to teach children other self-soothing techniques besides thumb sucking and to remain calm and encouraging when helping them stop using pacifiers.

2.  If your child uses a pacifier, then they are
probably relatively attached to it. You might
have heard that it is possible that constant
pacifier use can damage their teeth. This is
often referred to as “pacifier teeth,” and is a
true dental issue, but there are ways to
prevent damage caused by pacifiers.

3.  Pacifier use can cause your child’s mouth to
change, along with the alignment of the
teeth. As your child matures, their jaws will
take the shape of anything they have
routinely been holding within their mouth.
This can cause the teeth to tip forward,
causing issues with their bite. The roof of the
mouth can also be altered, along with
overbites and under bites. A reliable
pediatric dentist can analyze your children’s
teeth, and work to help correct dental issues
caused by pacifiers.

4.  It can be very hard for your child to break
the pacifier habit, especially if they
immediately try to start sucking their
thumbs. Thumb sucking can negatively
impact your child’s teeth as well, so it is
important to teach other self-soothing
strategies. If you notice that your child tends
to use their pacifier most when they are
afraid, make sure to cuddle them and spend
time with them. Remove the pacifier from
their mouth.

5.  Your presence should be enough to calm
them. It is important to be positive with your
children. Offer them encouragement as they
stop sucking their thumbs. Tell them that you
are proud of their progress. It can be
beneficial to utilize a prize chart. If your
child goes a full day without using their
pacifier, perhaps they get a sugar free snack
as a reward. Use stickers to track their
progress and work up to a bigger reward, like
a trip to the park.