Hello Barbara: Thankyou for your valuable infomation regarding the
genetics, tools, and oral damage. You wonder if feeding tubes and breathing
apparatus do more damage than pacifiers, well I think that is a difficult
one to answer too! I am sure they play a big part though! Perhaps it is
important to mention that when a baby is intubated and on a respirator, the
endotracheal tube is in most cases guided through the nasal orifice, and
therefore doesn't have direct contact with the palate and tongue (in the
oral cavity). With the introduction of a naso gastric feeding tube, the
case is generally the same. Except if the patient is not on a respirator
and needs the nasal room to breath more efficiently, but this, "as a rule"
is more short term. Although the swallowing ability of a patient with an in
situ naso gastric tube/endotracheal tube is impaired it doesn't prevent the
tongue from touching the roof of the mouth.

I was very interested to hear about you using air/gel filled pacifiers to
do "push-ups" As far as I know these are not available in Switzerland.
Would be interested to know where I could procure these! Would it be
possible for you to mail me privately?

Thanks again for all this interesting material.

Kerri Frischknecht RN, RM, IBCLC.

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