The American Dental Association released a statement last week warning parents that bacteria that causes tooth decay can be transmitted from an adult to a child by sharing eating utensils, or by the parent sucking a baby’s pacifier clean, even if the child doesn’t have teeth yet.

The warning comes on the heels of a recently published study in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, about the immunological benefits of adult saliva. According to the study, parents who lick their child’s pacifier clean can help protect them from allergies and help strengthen their immune systems. But dentists still don’t think it’s a good enough reason to do so.

Licking a pacifier, which is promoted in the study to clean it, can transfer the cavity-causing bacteria from the parent to baby increasing the possibility of tooth decay as they grow, the ADA warned.

Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, a pediatric dentist in Maine and a pediatric dental spokesperson for the ADA, in a press release said that A child’s teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they begin to erupt, so taking every precaution to prevent cavities is imperative.

About Robert Don, DDS

Robert Don, DDS ( http://www.dondds.com ) is a family and cosmetic dentist in Irvine, California. Dr. Don and his team of professionals are devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile using conservative, state-of-the-art dental procedures that will result in beautiful, long lasting smiles!

Robert Don, DDS
62 Corporate Park
Suite 230
Irvine, CA 92606
Phone: (949) 222-0296

Contact:
Rich Martel
rich@dentistpr.org