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Impact of infant feeding practices on caries experience of preschool children

Morenike O Folayan1, Christiana A Sowole, Foluso J Owotade

  • 1Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. toyinukpong@yahoo.co.uk

The Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
|September 14, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Prolonged breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding, significantly increases the risk of rampant caries in Nigerian preschool children. Longer breastfeeding duration directly correlates with higher caries experience.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Oral Health Research
  • Public Health Nutrition

Background:

  • Dental caries is a prevalent issue in preschool children.
  • Understanding risk factors associated with feeding practices is crucial for prevention.
  • Previous research has explored various feeding modalities and their impact on oral health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between breastfeeding, bottle feeding, night feeding, and child demographics with caries experience.
  • To determine the specific impact of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity on dental caries.
  • To assess the relationship between feeding habits and rampant caries in preschool children.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving mothers of preschool children in Nigeria.
  • Data collection included child's age and sex, breastfeeding details (form, duration), night feeding habits, and bottle feeding information.
  • Intraoral examinations were conducted to assess decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) and rampant caries.

Main Results:

  • Breastfeeding duration and form were significant predictors of dmft.
  • Children breastfed exclusively or for over 18 months exhibited the highest dmft.
  • A strong association was found between rampant caries and breastfeeding duration, with a 10% increased risk per month of breastfeeding.

Conclusions:

  • The duration of breastfeeding is a significant risk factor for rampant caries in Nigerian preschool children.
  • Extended breastfeeding periods are linked to a higher prevalence of dental caries.
  • These findings highlight the need for targeted oral health interventions considering breastfeeding practices.
Abstract

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