Question
Doctor, hello. Pacifiers can lead to poor tooth development, so can a 2-year-old continue to use a pacifier?
Answer
Hello, friend. Generally, it is not recommended for a 2-year-old to continue using a pacifier for drinking milk, as long-term use may result in poor tooth development and may cause the lips to form an underbite or overbite. Just like a baby chewing on their hands, using a pacifier is also an objective process. Giving the baby a pacifier can indeed help calm their emotions and is beneficial for the development of the baby’s upper and lower jaw muscles, facial muscles, and tongue extension. However, when the baby starts teething, continuing to use a pacifier is not advisable for the teeth.