Are pacifiers bad for the teeth?
Yes pacifiers can cause problems with teeth both from pressure and from breeding bacteria. However that is generally NOT a problem until age 5. Some of these links are about thumbs but remember thumbs are supposed to be worse: http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&a… How old is too old? According to the American Dental Association, thumb sucking does not cause permanent problems with the teeth or jaw line unless it is continued beyond 4 to 5 years of age. As it turns out, somewhere between 85% and 99% of children have finished thumb sucking spontaneously before this period. Which children keep sucking their thumbs? Many parents are concerned that thumb sucking at a late age is a sign of emotional immaturity or lack of self-confidence.
