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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Phoenix Small Smiles

Hello parents of Phoenix small smilers. Aren't those smiles magical? You can be tired or cranky and ready to call it a day and then they give you a big toothy or toothless grin and their eyes dance and your heart just melts.

Taking care of those smiles is important. Important not just for thier oral health but also their emotional health. And, a healthy smile can even affect the opportunities your kids will be offered in life.

Brush Time Fun Time

So even when the day is very rushed or very long, following up on the brushing and flossing habits of our children has to be a priority. There are ways to make it an enjoyable part of the day instead of one more chore.


1. Change your mindset - think of it as 3 times you get to stop and share a smiling "5 minute time out" ritual with laughter with your child.

2. Think of ways to make those 5 minutes fun - fun colored toothbrushes and floss containers, a special fun cup to rinse, making up a nonsense song fro you to sing and the children to hum as they brush.

3. Add a finishing hug. Children guaranteed 2-3 smiling hugs a day are happier and healthier all around.

4. And, don't forget to compliment the labors of your child-- tell them they have a lovely smile (even the snaggle-toothed ones.)

Setting up happy dental hygiene habits like these will pay off big for the whole family. Not only will it increase the liklihood that you will zoom though Dr Chu's Dental clinic with little to do (no one likes a long time at the dentist-- ESPECIALLY little ones) --- it will make tooth care time an oasis of love and stress relief for you and your kids.

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