Video summary
Dr. Caterina Di Matteo, an odontologist, emphasizes that pacifiers are not essential for newborn care but should certainly not be demonized if used correctly with specific precautions. While they can provide comfort and aid in soothing infants, their introduction requires careful timing to avoid interfering with breastfeeding success. If a mother chooses to breastfeed, it is advisable to wait until the nursing routine is well-established before introducing a pacifier. This delay prevents the infant from becoming accustomed to the easier suction of an artificial teat too soon, which could discourage them from latching properly and potentially disrupt the delicate process of establishing milk supply.
When selecting a pacifier, safety and anatomical design are paramount to preventing future dental issues. The ideal choice is one with a soft silicone nipple that closely mimics the shape of a mother's breast, as this encourages natural sucking mechanics without placing undue stress on developing jaw structures. Parents should strictly avoid cherry-shaped teats, which can exert abnormal pressure on the bones of the mouth and lead to malocclusions or other dental problems later in childhood. Furthermore, hygiene and nutrition play critical roles; dipping pacifiers in sugar, honey, or any sweet substance must never be done due to the high risk of early tooth decay known as baby bottle caries, which specifically affects the upper front teeth before a child even begins eating solid foods.
The duration of pacifier use is also crucial for maintaining proper oral development, with experts recommending that usage cease around 24 months of age to prevent structural changes like an overly narrow palate caused by prolonged non-nutritive sucking. As children grow older and approach toddlerhood, the comforting function of the pacifier can be gradually replaced by transitional objects such as a favorite blanket or soft toy, alongside bedtime rituals like reading stories. During stressful periods in a child's life, such as the arrival of a new sibling or starting preschool, it is helpful to allow continued use rather than abruptly stopping, and imaginative play involving characters like Santa Claus or animals can make the eventual weaning process less traumatic for both parent and child.
Read the full video transcript
Hello everyone, I'm
Dr. Caterina Di Matteo, a
dentist, and today we're talking about
pacifiers.
The pacifier is not an
essential tool in the care of a
newborn or an infant, but it certainly
should not be demonized; on the contrary, it
can be used with peace of mind
simply by following a few small
precautions and some rules
listed below.
First of all, if you choose to
breastfeed, it is preferable
not to introduce a pacifier until
breastfeeding has been properly
established. And this is because, since
breastfeeding is tiring for the newborn,
getting used to a simpler and
lighter suction such as that of a
pacifier could discourage him
from starting
breastfeeding correctly. Rule number two:
always choose an
anatomical and soft silicone teat. This means
always choosing teats that
simulate the
mother's breast as much as possible and avoiding
cherry-shaped teats because they can cause
abnormal pressure on the jaw bones
and therefore be a harbinger of malocclusions
and dental problems when the
children are older.
Rule number three, never dip your
pacifier in sugar, honey, or anything
sweet or sugary in general.
[music] This is for
nutritional reasons, because we know that some
foods must be introduced from the
age of a certain number of months
onwards and in any case with a
reduced frequency. And also because keeping
a pacifier
dipped in sugary substances like
sugar or honey in contact with the first teeth can unfortunately be a
harbinger of so-called baby
bottle tooth decay, that is, tooth decay of the
upper frontal area that we
absolutely want to avoid in our
children.
Around 24 months or so, it would be
preferable to stop using the
pacifier to avoid it leading to
malocclusion, such as a
particularly narrow palate. Let's remember
that non-nutritive sucking very
often has a comforting function and
consequently the use of a pacifier by a
slightly older child can be
replaced by a transitional object or ritual
such as a
blanket or a soft toy or a
bedtime story. Let's try not to let
the pacifier go unused during
times that can be
stressful for the child,
such as the arrival of a new
sibling or
starting nursery or
preschool. It can often be helpful to
tell them to give it to a
fantastic character like Santa Claus or the
Little Fish if we are at the beach or some other little
animal. I
look forward to hearing from you in the comments with
questions and further insights
on the topic, and I'll see you
next time we talk about a
baby's first dental visit,
which, spoiler alert, happens while still in the
womb. See you soon.