Thumb Sucking vs. Pacifier Use: Which Is Worse for a Child’s Teeth? Dental Guidelines
Both thumb sucking and pacifier use can affect dental development if they continue past age 2-3, but pacifiers offer better control for habit cessation. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (2024), both non-nutritive sucking habits can cause malocclusion, open bite, and palate development issues if continued beyond the eruption of permanent teeth. Pacifiers…