28/03/2025
🍼 The relationship between pacifiers and open bites is quite direct from a dental and children's orofacial development perspective:
🎯 What is an open bite?
An open bite is an alteration in dental occlusion in which the upper and lower teeth do not make proper contact when closing the mouth, especially in the anterior area (incisors).
🎯 How does a pacifier affect the mouth?
Prolonged use of a pacifier can cause or promote an open bite for the following reasons:
✔️ Constant pressure: The pacifier exerts continuous pressure on the palate and front teeth, preventing them from erupting properly or pushing them outward.
✔️ Alterations in the oral muscles: Frequent pacifier use can affect the function of the tongue, lips, and orofacial muscles, leading to abnormal swallowing and speech patterns.
✔️ Interference with normal mouth closure: The child becomes accustomed to having something in their mouth, which prevents their teeth from closing normally and affects their development.
✔️ Factors to consider:
Duration: It's not just whether the child uses a pacifier, but also how long a day they use it and until what age they continue to use it.
✔️ Critical age: If the pacifier is eliminated before 2-3 years of age, the open bite is likely to correct itself spontaneously.
✔️ Genetics and associated habits: Thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or mouth breathing can also contribute.
