Which is better/worse for your teeth?

[jter42]

Which one is better or worse for your teeth?


A pacifier,or thumb sucking?


I'm pretty sure a pacifiers better but I'm not positive.

[Nicky]

They are probably equally bad. Just dont go overboard with it.

[Mitsukuni]

I think thumb-sucking makes you have more of an over-bite than a pacifier would, because the thumb is larger than the pacifier's nipple. Plus, it depends on the type of pacifier.

[Roman]

I would think thumb-sucking because you would probably be putting more pressure on your teeth than a pacifier would.

[Zekk]

For me, sucking my thumb is irritating. Using a paci is better.

[tk7432]

I would also say the thumb rather than a pacifier because of the size of the thumb.

[jter42]

I'm trying to replace thumb sucking with pacifiers but its not as soothing. Although I've fallen asleep with the paci in my mouth so I'm making progress with it.

[CrazyCanuck]

Ya pacifier is definitely better in terms of oral care. doctors sometimes recommend them to parents of children who suck their thumb too much. Not only that, some pacifiers (well, for real babies that is, not overly true for adults...) are made with the childs oral health in mind and will actually help develop their teeth.

Kevin

[redtails]

Originally Posted by Zekk

For me, sucking my thumb is irritating. Using a paci is better.

Jter42 wasn't really referring to the side-effects of thumb sucking on his thumb.

Studies seem to imply pacifiers cause more permanent displacement to the teeth than thumbs do. That is, when we're talking about babies and young children. Although I do believe you cannot use the results of those studies for infantilists as the reason why pacifiers are usually worse is partially due to the fact children and babies suck on them for much longer than they would suck on their thumb, which irritates the skin around their nails after all.

Using your thumb will primarily cause movement of the teeth in your upper jaw. A pacifier causes the teeth in both the above and below jaw to be affected. So, choosing from two evils, I'd probably go for my thumb if I really cared that much about my teeth, that's how nature intended it to be after all, evolution gave us the possibility to thumb suck.

The effects of using a pacifier can be rounded down to zero if you don't suck on it hours per day and several days per week.

[Left]

Try not to suck your thumb and go for the paci instead
my little sister sucked her thumb and winded up getting some type of worm or something from it =/