Non-nutritive sucking (pacifiers, finger)

Non-nutritive sucking is the act of sucking the pacifier, thumb or other limbs (toes and fingers). It  can be seen in all infants and is quite normal. The main problem is that when can this become a harmful habit. Pacifier and finger sucking decreases with age and it usually goes away around 2-4 years of age. The negative effects of non-nutritive sucking on the tooth structure are quite low for children under 3 years of age. Incisors on the upper and lower anterior teeth are mostly affected. When the upper incisors go forward, towards the lip, the lower incisors can lie towards the posterior, tongue side. If the non-nutritive sucking is eliminated at the age of 3, these problems can disappear spontaneously but in some situations, may require treatment as they age. In addition, the pacifier should not be dipped into honey, jam or similar sweet food, especially since it can increase the risk of tooth decay.

Problems will not occur if the child drops the non-nutritive sucking spontaneously at 2-4 years of age. Children under 3 years of age should not be pressured to stop the pacifier or finger sucking habit. It is important to note that children above 4 years of age may not stop the action because of some other factors, such as cultural factors or the child does not feel safe. If children over 4 years old continue this action, problems will arise and the chin and face structure maybe affected.