From Volume 40, Issue 2, March 2013 | Pages 92-101
Pacifiers, otherwise known as dummies, have been around for many centuries. They have, however, taken many different forms, shapes and sizes. Their use is increasing and has remained controversial, with both potential risks and benefits identified in the medical and dental literature. The purpose of this article is to review some of the evidence available for and against the use of pacifiers and make recommendations for their application, maintenance and weaning.
Sucking is an inherent behaviour to the developing child at the intra-uterine, neonatal and infant stage. It has been observed that a foetus begins to suck his/her thumb as early as 12 weeks gestational age. This, together with some respiratory like movements, is thought to prepare oromusculature of the foetus for respiratory and swallowing function. The infants are also thought to have the sucking tendency as a part of two reflexes that exist only in early life: the rooting reflex which remains until 7 months of age and sucking reflex which remains until 12 months of age. The rooting reflex is where a child turns his or her head towards an object touching the cheek and this could be a finger or a mother's breast. The need for sucking can be satisfied through nutritive sucking, which includes breast and bottle feeding, or non-nutritive sucking on items such as digits, pacifiers or toys.
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