Dummies

Sucking a dummy can help relax and settle babies but many parents are concerned about the effect of a dummy on their child’s teeth and mouth.

Problems caused by dummies

Sucking a dummy, thumb or finger can cause changes to the teeth and jaws if it becomes a long-term habit. The earlier a child stops sucking a dummy, the more likely their teeth and jaws will correct the growth problems naturally.

Long-term dummy use may lead to:

• Incorrect positioning of teeth (an overbite) – upper teeth may be pushed further forward than is ideal, or the top and bottom front teeth may not touch. This can change the way the teeth meet when the child bites and can also affect speech development, especially s and z sounds.
• An open bite – this is when the top and bottom front teeth don’t meet when the mouth is closed (normally the upper teeth slightly overlap the bottom teeth). If there is a gap between the upper and lower front teeth where the tongue could poke through, this could be an open bite.
• Mouth breathing – the upper airway can be narrowed leading to mouth breathing, causing the mouth to dry out. This increases the risk of tooth decay. Narrow airways can also lead to issues with quality of sleep.
• Speech and language problems – having a dummy in the mouth may delay children using sounds to communicate, and prevent them from exploring the full range of tongue movements required to make all the speech sounds. This risk can be reduced by not letting your child talk with the dummy in their mouth. Pretend you don’t understand them to make them remove the dummy to talk.
• Tooth decay (especially the front teeth) – if the dummy is dipped in sugary substances such as honey or jam. Never put anything on the dummy apart from when you clean it.

Stopping dummy use

Give your child the chance to stop their dummy habit when they are ready. Most children stop sucking habits between the ages of two and four, but you can start the process from around one year of age. If left after age four the child can become more attached and it may be harder to stop.

Avoid trying to stop dummy use suddenly, as it can lead to other oral habits such as thumb or finger sucking.

Tips for removing the dummy

• Limit the use of the dummy to sleep or nighttime.
• Stopping dummy use after daytime naps have finished can help reduce the amount the dummy is required.
• Talk about stopping the dummy for a couple of days to prepare your child.
• Consider replacing it with a toy, maybe a cuddly toy they have chosen and can hold when they would be using the dummy. You can talk about the replacement when they are asking for the dummy.
• Encourage your child to give their dummy away to the dummy fairy, or to another parent of a younger child.
• Give plenty of encouragement and keep it positive.
• Persist gently but firmly. The first few days without a dummy are likely to be the most difficult.
• Be patient – it may take a few attempts.

If the habit continues into primary school years, seek advice from your oral health professional.

Keeping dummies safe

Never dip dummies in sweet things such as honey, jams or syrups; this can cause severe tooth decay very quickly.

Follow good hygiene procedures. Dummies may cause infection if they are shared with other children or picked up from the floor.

Check that dummies are in good condition and meet Australian safety approval ratings.

Where to get help (key organisations with web links and phone numbers):

• Your dentist or other dental practitioner
• Your maternal and child health nurse
• Speech pathologist
• Oral Health Victoria provides public dental services through the Royal Dental Hospital Of Melbourne and community dental clinics for eligible people. For information about public dental services call (03) 9341 1000, or 1800 833 039 outside Melbourne metro.
• Australian Dental Association 'Find a Dentist'or call (03) 8825 4600