When is it Time to get rid of the Pacifier?

When is it Time to get rid of the Pacifier?

 

 

 

I don’t usually like to do points mostly off of my opinions, as everyone has the right to their own but I must admit that the urge to write this blog post has been extremely overwhelming (partially because of my own feelings on the matter and the other half because others seemed to think it was ok). Earlier this week I witnessed a little boy whose age couldn’t have been any less than three, with a mouth full of teeth speaking clearly and then he put his pacifier in his mouth. Honestly, I think I spent the first five minutes observing the child (from the back of the room) play and interact with children of various ages (18 months-6 years) but the more I observed the more it resonated with me that he was too old to be using a pacifier especially while out playing. As my focus then shifted to his parents and other parents surrounding I could tell many of them were having the same thoughts I did. I’m certain that his mother has some qualms with it for when it was his turn to go to the evaluator she removed the pacifier from his person and quickly stuffed it in her bag.

I won’t contest two things; the first is I could be completely wrong and he could simply be a child who is very mature and advanced for his age, and that it’s possible that the pacifier is a tool being used only in times of need (like getting him to sit still, play with others well, or sleep). But my main concern is for the child and the fact that such prolonged use of the pacifier at his ‘advanced’ stage may result in dental problems in the immediate future and the long run; It’s simply for the same rules has giving children baby bottles with nipples to drink from after their teeth have formed. Straying from the topic a little, I’ve once meet a parent who thought that it was natural that both of her children (eight years apart) experienced decaying of their primary teeth. While I don’t want to paint an ugly picture I had the pleasure of meeting both children from very young stages in their lives and I can assure you (and many will probably agree) that there is nothing natural or healthy about kids having a mouth full of rotten teeth; it was sadly the only thing that distracted others from their academic achievements and even their appearances. I reason for saying this is that it is not all right to let children ruin their primary teeth because they will get new ones and studies suggest that even when adult teeth are formed children with prolonged use of pacifiers are more likely to have dental issues such as;

1.     

Openbite

 

2.      Overjet (great chances

 

 

 3.      Posterior crossbites (children with more prolonged use are subject to anterior openbite and posterior crossbites)

 

 

While I am not a dental hygienist and can’t offer much on the prices of braces or other orthodontic wear for children, I can say that from the accounts that I’ve read it seems very painful for children. The only alternative to the pain is to put children under anesthesia and many of us know the risks of what can happen when children are put to sleep; anyone remember the little girl that died after going to the dentist? As I said in the beginning I don’t generally like to write about my personal opinions in matters but in this case I had to make an exception.

For further readings on the U.S Virgin Islands on topics of education and our children please read Children Are Dying, Thank God you’re NOT MY MOM!!!, and Thank God you’re NOT MY MOM 2

 

 

This blog post is the opinions of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on the institution’s she is employed for nor is those she affiliated with through volunteer work or otherwise. For more opinions from us please visit our blog page usviearlychildhoodlearning.blogspot.com or email us at usvi.childhood.learning@gmail.com  and like us on Facebook or follow Ms. Child Advocate on Twitter.