Thumbs or Pacifiers? Heroes Or Monsters?

The results of studies on both thumbs and pacifiers this decade have had some surprising results.

  

It seems that both can be a hero or a monster. 

The differences are in the timing.

Hero

One of any parent's worst nightmares is SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). There is usually no warning and the causes are not entirely understood.

In comes the former-arch enemy of infant health -- 'The Pacifier' to the rescue. Studies performed in this last decade show that babies use of a pacifier at night can help reduce the chance of SIDS.

Pacifiers keep an infant from sleeping as deeply as they would without one. And, while sleepy parents might not find this a great thing, the lighter sleep and sucking allow the infant to be pulled from a sleep that could become so deep that breathing stops.

Thumb or Pacifier?

Thumbs or a parent's little finger used to be considered a healthier alternative by some groups. They had more "give" they were skin, and there is a limit to how hard they can be sucked on.

However, they can't be sterilized as easily as pacifiers. More importantly - reports show that it is often easier to get a toddler to stop using a pacifier than it is to get them to stop using the convenient and always present thumb.

Why is this important?

 Monster

Being able to ween your toddler off of either option by age 2 (and at the VERY LATEST age 4) can make a big difference to the need for future dental treatment. And don't we ALL want less treatment and more smiles?

The studies on sucking effects showed on crossbite in the molar area steadily increased from 5.8 percent for children who stopped the habit by one year of age. It jumped to 13 percent among children who stopped between two and three years old. And reached more than 20 percent for children who continued to use a pacifier or thumb-suck after they turned four years old.

Which Will You Pick?

So much of parenting is in balancing the special needs of each stage of development. It is good to know that there is benefit to allowing our infants (and ourselves) the comfort and quieting of a thumb or pacifier.

But we also need pick wisely looking ahead to that time where the sucking benefit becomes a curse. And, choose the method we feel we can successfully ween sooner rather than later. What will it be.. Thumb or pacifier?

 

Dr Karen Chu DMD

I would love to hear what you decided for your infants and toddlers  Please leave a comment and share what has worked for your family.

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Brush Our Teeth Song Video

Hello Parents!

Sometimes after  a long day at work it is difficult to be creative for the kids. That is where some of the great videos other people share can be really helpful!

If your computer is anywhere within speaker range of the computer, your kids can brush with a fun little tyke called Dante. He is on Youtube and many small children especially love to brush along.

So here is the video... it is 2 1/2 minutes so 30 seconds over the 2 minute minimum for brushing.

Crank up those speakers and let the toothpaste flow!

* Thank you Dante's Family for sharing this with everyone.

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Give Your Child The Gift Of Good Flossing Habits

Giving your kids the gift of good flossing habits will provide benefits that continue their whole lives.

Flossing is essential to protect your child's teeth from the hidden dangers lurking behind candy, soft drinks and bread. Even healthy fruit can contribute to sugar acids eating away undetected until the next dentist visit-- and then it's too late to avoid cavities!

Plaque (that sticky yellow stuff on teeth that also causes teasing if other kids notice it), easily burrows down into the gums,destroying the root and even damaging bone. Giving your kids the gift of the good flossing habits -- even just once a day -- will do wonders to prevent cavities and keep beautiful their small smiles beautiful! And, later in life, to keep pink gums pink and surgery free.

When to Start?

Even though kids only need help with brushing until about age 3 or 4, for flossing they will continue to need your help until age 8 or 9 (for effective results).  Until then you need to perform flossing every night before bedtime, right after a good two minute brushing.

A Good Start!

You may not realize it but at this age your child is recording everything. Every experience, site, sound is creating the future person they will easily become. By you, the parents, setting aside this time and practice every night without fail, your baby will absorb and retain at a deep level the importance of the flossing habit.

When it is time to set the child loose to be responsible for his or her own dental hygiene, it will be MUCH easier for them to remember all their lives. And, of course, will benefit you all by resulting in fewer cavities and gum issues showing up during dentist visits.

Toddler to early school age 

As soon as two teeth side by side appear you can begin gently flossing with baby.

1. Sit comfortably with your toddler on your lap facing you. (I liked to play "wheeee and laugh with them a few times since they were o my lap. It makes floss time happy fun with parent time and easier all around.
2. Take about 18 inches of dental floss and wrap one end around each of your middle fingers.Using your thumbs and index fingers as guides, slide the floss between two teeth, GENTLY using a saw-like motion. (Not too fast! Slow and easy is the way right now!)
3. When the floss reaches the gum line, pull both ends of the floss in the same direction to form a C shape around one tooth.
4. Pull the floss tightly and move it up and down, up and down against one tooth.
5. Pull the floss against the other tooth and repeat the motion. If baby is restive sometimes a little sawing song is good as a distraction.
6. Repeat this for all of the teeth. Be sure to floss both sides of the teeth farthest back in the mouth.

Dr Karen Chu, a Phoenix, AZ childrens dentist, asks parents to consider:

"Doing this every night before bed will provide the foundation of a habit pattern that will impact any child's health and self confidence for life."

Who knew it was really such a gift to help your toddler develop good oral hygiene habits?

Because, if you are gentle and a little fun and loving (it only adds about 5 minutes to add in some wheee's and a bit of song and laughter), the benefits will go beyond just the next visit to your children's dentist. The confidence and self esteem of your kids will increase with those smiles because for a time everyday mommy or daddy spent lovingly caring for them.


Next time we will talk about early school age flossing. Until then, enjoy creating healthy smiles with your kids.

Don't forget to share this page with other parents!


  

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