Hamidreza Poureslami - Professor, Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center AND Kerman Social ‎Determinants on Oral Health Research Center AND ‎Department of Pediatric ‎Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, ‎Kerman,
Razieh Hoseinifar - Assistant Professor, Department of Operative Dentistry, School of ‎Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, ‎Iran
Reihaneh Hosseinifar - Resident, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Hamid Sharifi - Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, ‎Iran
Parnian Poureslami - Student of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical ‎Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Sucking of some types of a pacifier may be a risk factor for mal-development of orofacial structures and malocclusion. This study assessed the prevalence of using of different types of pacifier and bottle nipple among ۱-۲۴ months old children in Kerman, Iran.METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of ۳۰۰ mothers interviewed at ۲۰ specialized private pediatric offices in Kerman. The mothers had ۱-۲۴ months old children. A checklist includes items about pacifier sucking, bottle feeding habits, as well as mothers’ ability to recognize different kinds of available pacifier and bottle nipple was used.RESULTS: The rate of pacifier-sucking was ۳۷.۳%, and use of bottle feeding was ۴۲.۳%, and among of the users, ۲۴.۰ and ۳۵.۷% were used orthodontic (functional) types of pacifier and bottle nipple respectively. However, only ۲۸.۷% of mothers had adequate ability to recognize orthodontic pacifier and bottle nipple.CONCLUSION: The rates of using orthodontic kind of pacifier and bottle nipple were low, and a few mothers had adequate ability to recognize their differences.

Pacifier, Bottle Feeding, Bottle Nipple, Breast feeding, Sucking Habits