Pacifier and open bite in babies

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An open bite is a dental malocclusion in which the front teeth are out of position. It is common in children, especially those who have the bad habit of sucking their thumb.

Pacifiers are a good way to soothe and comfort babies. In addition, they can help reduce the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome.

However, pacifiers can damage the growth and development of the oral cavity and teeth. Prolonged use of it can cause changes in the shape of the palate, impede the proper growth of the mouth and create problems with the bite and the alignment of the teeth.

Therefore, parents should be aware of the possible complications that its prolonged use can cause.

Open bite, at what age does it usually occur?

An open bite is a type of malocclusion that consists of a non-existent vertical overlap that prevents contact between the upper and lower anterior incisors. In other words, the front teeth drift out of position, preventing the mouth from closing properly.

Open bite can occur as a result of several different reasons. Some of these reasons are:

Genetic heritage. It can be inherited, leading to an open skeletal bite.

Harmful habits. Some habits that can cause this are the interposition of the tongue, sucking the thumb or the use of the pacifier in the long term.

Large size of the tongue or an obstructed airway. In some cases, the open bite has nothing to do with bad habits but with the child's birth conditions.

Therefore, the ages in which the open bite usually appears are in those of the childhood stage.

Relationship between pacifier, teether and open bite

As already mentioned, one of the main complications at the dental level is the one that leads to the appearance of an open bite, since the upper and lower front teeth do not meet, which makes both chewing and phonation difficult. Pacifiers can also cause the development of a narrow palate and sometimes a posterior crossbite. All of these conditions can be addressed and treated with interceptive orthodontics.

To avoid such problems, the use of the pacifier should be stopped between 18 months and two years of age, as an object of habitual use. Studies have shown that when the habit of sucking stops before the eruption of the permanent teeth, the open bite self-corrects. Therefore, the sooner the habit is stopped, the better the result, requiring less treatment.

If as a parent you are considering banning the pacifier to avoid this situation completely, it is important to emphasize that its limited use by a young child can be a good alternative to thumb sucking, a habit that is even more harmful at the dental level. Sporadic short-term pacifier use is better than constant use.

What oral consequences can it bring?

The use of pacifiers also causes the development of a posterior crossbite. A posterior crossbite is defined as an abnormal buccolingual relationship between opposing or antagonistic molars, premolars, or both.

This occurs when the pacifier forces the tongue against the floor of the mouth, causing outward pressure on the lower dental arch. At the same time, the upper dental arch loses support from the tongue, causing pressure from the cheeks to push the upper dental arch inward.

In some cases, behavior modification can be successful in eliminating these habits.

Behavioral therapy can be successful, especially when the child is still with his primary teeth in the preadolescent age. When habits are changed at this time, it can often lead to self-correction of that open bite. Sometimes the presence of a baby-like swallow that continues into early childhood, called an atypical swallow, can also lead to an anterior open bite.

Controlling these habits through the use of orthodontic appliances such as a lingual grill is a good measure, especially in cases where behavior modification does not prevent the habit.

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