Swedish Pacifier Study Stirs Controversy

Swedish Pacifier Study Stirs Controversy

A small study published in Pediatrics has gained attention for its claim that infants whose parents cleaned their pacifiers by sucking on them were less likely to develop asthma, allergies, or eczema. The authors hypothesize that the greater exposure to organisms early in life may stimulate the immune system and help children develop greater resistance to health problems, such as allergies. Subsequently, the American Dental Association (ADA) voiced its concern and opposition to the practice.

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden enrolled 184 infants who were later assessed at age 18 months and 36 months by a pediatric allergist for clinical allergies, as well as sensitivity to both food and airborne allergens. Parents of the subjects were initially interviewed regarding pregnancy, delivery, family structure, and housing conditions. They were also required to keep detailed journals regarding food introduction, weaning, health and medication use, and pacifier use during their child’s first year of life. It was discovered that children whose parents cleaned pacifiers by sucking on them (as opposed to rinsing or boiling in hot water) were less likely to develop asthma, allergies, and eczema. This led researchers to conclude that parent-child saliva sharing positively alters the microflora of an infant’s mouth.

According to Jonathan D. Shenkin, DDS, MPH, a pediatric dentist and ADA spokesperson, the study is worrisome because “[it] fails to acknowledge the potential dangers of pacifier sharing—specifically, the transfer of caries-causing bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, from parent to child.” Shenkin also asserts that the study lacked the necessary depth to back its conclusions.

“This is a small study that received a lot of press,” Shenkin tells Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. “Public education shouldn’t derive from a single study disseminated by the media, but, rather, through evidence-based studies that are balanced and address all health consequences.”