Pacifier Teeth: 4 Ways Pacifiers Affect Your Child’s Teeth 

Pacifiers can be helpful during a baby’s first years. They can calm babies, help them settle, and may lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when used at nap time and bedtime.

However, using a pacifier for too long can affect how a child’s teeth and jaw grow. Long-term pacifier use may increase the risk of an open bite, overjet, posterior crossbite, and other bite changes.

At Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics (PVPD), our pediatric dentists help parents care for growing teeth and manage habits such as long-term pacifier use and thumb-sucking. 

If you are worried about your child’s pacifier use or bite, book an appointment with our pediatric dental team so we can check your child’s teeth and jaw.

Continue reading to understand better and address this common issue.

What Are Pacifier Teeth?

“Pacifier teeth” is a simple term for tooth and bite changes that can happen when a child uses a pacifier for a long time.

A pacifier does not always cause dental problems. The risk can increase when a child uses it often and keeps using it for a long time. 

Long-term sucking habits can affect the growing mouth and may cause changes such as an open bite, increased overjet, and posterior crossbite.

The good news is that stopping the habit at the right time can help prevent or reduce these changes.

How Can a Pacifier Affect Your Child’s Teeth?

The effect of a pacifier can depend on how often your child uses it, how strongly they suck, and how long they keep the habit. Here are some changes you may notice.

1. Open Bite

An open bite happens when the upper and lower front teeth do not touch when your child closes their mouth.

Long-term pacifier use can change how these front teeth grow. You may notice a small gap between the upper and lower front teeth even when your child’s mouth is closed.

2. Increased Overjet

Overjet means the upper front teeth stick out farther than the lower front teeth.

Long-term pacifier use can push the upper front teeth forward. This can make the teeth look more prominent and change the way your child bites.

3. Posterior Crossbite

A posterior crossbite happens when some of the upper back teeth sit inside the lower back teeth when your child bites down.

Long-term pacifier use can affect the width of the upper jaw. This may cause the back teeth to meet in the wrong position.

4. Changes in Jaw and Mouth Development

Long-term pacifier use can affect how your child’s upper jaw and mouth develop.

The effect can vary from child to child. How often your child uses the pacifier, how strongly they suck, and how long they keep the habit can all play a role.

Are Pacifiers Bad for Babies?

No. Pacifiers are not automatically bad for babies.

Offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime may help lower the risk of SIDS. If your baby is breastfeeding, you should wait until breastfeeding is going well before giving a pacifier. 

The main concern is frequent and long-term use as your child gets older. The AAPD recommends helping children stop nonnutritive sucking habits by 36 months, or about age 3. 

You do not have to take the pacifier away all at once. Start by limiting when your child can use it.

For example, you can let your child use the pacifier only during naps and bedtime. Once they get used to this change, you can work toward stopping it completely.

How Can You Help Your Child Stop Using a Pacifier?

Stopping the pacifier can be hard, especially if your child uses it to sleep or calm down. Take it slowly and help your child find new ways to feel comfortable.

1. Start With Daytime

Begin by taking away the pacifier during the day. Let your child use it only for naps or bedtime at first.

Once they get used to that change, you can work on removing it at night too.

2. Pick a Good Time to Start

Try to stop the pacifier when your child’s routine is calm. Avoid starting during a big change, such as moving to a new home, starting school, or welcoming a new baby.

A calm routine can make the change easier for your child.

3. Replace the Comfort

Give your child something else when they want their pacifier. A favorite stuffed animal, blanket, hug, story, or song can help them feel safe.

The goal is to replace the comfort, not just take it away.

4. Make a Simple Weaning Plan

Set small goals instead of stopping all at once. For example, you can start with no pacifier during playtime, then remove it during naps, and finally stop using it at bedtime.

Keep the rules simple and stick with them.

5. Praise Small Wins

Celebrate your child’s progress when they go without the pacifier. A hug, kind words, or a simple sticker chart can make the process feel positive.

Try not to punish or shame your child if they ask for it again.

6. Help With Bedtime

If your child uses a pacifier to fall asleep, create a new bedtime routine. Try a bath, story, cuddle, or favorite song before bed.

Keeping the same routine each night can help your child feel ready for sleep without the pacifier.

7. Talk to Your Pediatric Dentist

If your child cannot give up the pacifier or you notice changes in their teeth or bite, talk to a pediatric dentist.

Your dentist can check your child’s mouth and give you advice based on their age, habit, and dental development.

What Should You Avoid With Pacifiers?

Safe pacifier use is important too. A few simple precautions can help protect your child’s teeth and safety.

Never Dip a Pacifier in Sugar

Do not dip a pacifier in honey, sugar, syrup, or other sweet foods.

Frequent sugar exposure can raise the risk of tooth decay, especially once your child’s teeth start to appear.

Do Not Attach a Pacifier to a Sleeping Baby

Do not attach a pacifier to your baby’s clothes, neck, blanket, or stuffed toy while they sleep.

The AAP warns that cords, straps, and attached items can create choking or strangulation risks. (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Do Not Share Pacifiers

Give each child their own pacifier.

Sharing pacifiers can spread germs from one child to another.

Choose the Right Size

Choose a pacifier made for your child’s age and follow the safety instructions from the manufacturer.

Replace the pacifier if it becomes cracked, torn, or damaged.

Does an Orthodontic Pacifier Prevent Pacifier Teeth?

You may see pacifiers sold as “orthodontic” pacifiers. These products may claim to put less pressure on the mouth.

However, parents should not assume that an orthodontic pacifier will completely prevent dental changes. More research is needed to know which pacifier designs best reduce effects on a child’s developing mouth. 

The most important step is still to reduce and stop the sucking habit at the right age.

Can Pacifier Teeth Fix Themselves?

Sometimes, early bite changes can improve after a child stops using the pacifier.

A child’s mouth continues to grow and change as they get older. Because of this, some changes may improve naturally after the habit stops.

However, not every bite problem will go away on its own. A pediatric dentist can check your child’s teeth and bite and watch for changes after the habit ends.

How Do You Fix Pacifier Teeth?

The first step is to reduce or stop the pacifier habit. Your child’s age and the type of bite change will help the dentist decide what to do next.

1. Stop the Pacifier Habit

If the pacifier has affected the bite, stopping the habit removes the pressure that may be pushing on the teeth.

You can use the gentle steps above to help your child give up the pacifier.

2. Monitor the Teeth and Bite

Some children only need regular dental visits after they stop using the pacifier.

Your pediatric dentist can watch how the teeth and jaw develop as your child grows.

3. Consider Orthodontic Treatment When Needed

If the bite problem remains after your child stops the habit, your dentist may suggest an orthodontic checkup.

Treatment may include braces or another orthodontic appliance, depending on your child’s age and bite problem.

Do not use braces, aligners, or dental appliances at home to fix pacifier teeth. A dental professional should decide if treatment is needed.

What About Thumb-Sucking?

Some children start sucking their thumb after they stop using a pacifier. They may turn to thumb-sucking when they feel tired, upset, bored, or need comfort.

Long-term thumb-sucking can affect growing teeth and the way the bite develops. It may contribute to problems such as an open bite, overjet, or crossbite.

If your child starts sucking their thumb, try to understand when and why they do it. Offer a hug, favorite toy, blanket, story, or another calming activity instead.

Praise your child when they go without sucking their thumb, and avoid scolding them if they start again. If the habit continues or you notice changes in their teeth, talk to a pediatric dentist about the next steps, including treatment for an overbite from thumb-sucking.

When Should Your Child See a Pediatric Dentist?

Consider a dental visit if:

• Pacifier use continues close to age 3 or beyond
• The front teeth start to look pushed forward
• A gap appears between the upper and lower front teeth
• The teeth do not meet properly
• You notice a crossbite
• Your child has trouble biting or chewing
• You notice changes in the shape of the upper jaw
• You are worried about your child’s bite or tooth development

Early dental visits give your pediatric dentist a chance to watch your child’s teeth and jaw as they grow. 

Get Your Child’s Pacifier Teeth Checked at PVPD!

At Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics (PVPD), our pediatric dentists help children with bite problems, long-term pacifier use, thumb-sucking, and other oral habits.

We can check your child’s teeth and bite, explain what we find, and tell you if your child needs monitoring or further treatment. 

Start reducing pacifier use during the toddler years and aim to stop the habit by around age 3. If you notice changes in your child’s teeth or bite, schedule a pediatric dental visit so your dentist can check the problem early.

People Also Ask

Can pacifier teeth go back to normal?

Sometimes. Some early bite changes can improve after a child stops using the pacifier. A pediatric dentist can watch the teeth and decide if your child needs more treatment.

Does a pacifier cause buck teeth?

Long-term sucking can increase the risk of increased overjet. This can make the upper front teeth sit farther forward than the lower teeth. 

Can a pacifier change the shape of the mouth?

Yes. Long-term sucking can affect the growing upper jaw and the way the teeth come together. The risk can increase when a child uses a pacifier often and for a long time.

Should I remove the pacifier during the day?

Cutting back on daytime use can help your child become less dependent on the pacifier. You can start by keeping it for naps and bedtime, then slowly work toward stopping it.

What if my child refuses to give up the pacifier?

Do not force or shame your child. Make small changes, offer other comfort items, praise your child’s progress, and ask your pediatric dentist for help if the habit continues.

Can my baby sleep with a pacifier?

Yes. The AAP recommends offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime because it may help lower the risk of SIDS. If the pacifier falls out after your baby falls asleep, you do not need to put it back. 

Should I use a pacifier if I breastfeed?

If you breastfeed, the AAP recommends waiting until breastfeeding is well established before introducing a pacifier. This means your baby is feeding well, has a good latch, and is gaining weight properly. 

Can pacifiers cause cavities?

The pacifier itself does not cause cavities. However, dipping a pacifier in sugar, honey, syrup, or other sweet foods can put sugar on your child’s teeth and increase the risk of tooth decay.