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Osteoporosis Modifies the Association between Breastfeeding and Remaining Teeth in Postmenopausal Women
1Department of Dental Hygiene, Daejeon Health University, Daejeon-si, Republic of Korea.
JDR Clinical and Translational Research
|January 9, 2026
Summary
Prolonged breastfeeding is linked to fewer teeth in postmenopausal women, especially those with osteoporosis. This suggests osteoporosis status modifies the breastfeeding-tooth retention relationship, warranting targeted oral health monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
- Oral Health and Dentistry
- Bone Health and Osteoporosis Research
Background:
- Osteoporosis is a significant health concern for postmenopausal women.
- Breastfeeding duration is a potential factor influencing long-term health outcomes.
- The relationship between osteoporosis, breastfeeding, and oral health requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between osteoporosis, cumulative breastfeeding duration, and the number of remaining teeth in postmenopausal women.
- To investigate if osteoporosis status modifies the relationship between breastfeeding duration and oral health outcomes, specifically tooth retention.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 1,788 Korean women aged 50 years and older from the 2010-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
- Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between breastfeeding duration and remaining teeth, stratified by osteoporosis status.
- Interaction analysis was performed to evaluate the combined effects of osteoporosis and breastfeeding duration on tooth retention, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- Women with osteoporosis (36.8%) had significantly longer breastfeeding durations (6.42 years) and fewer remaining teeth (20.16) compared to those with normal bone density (4.09 years, 25.42 teeth).
- Each additional year of breastfeeding was associated with a significant decrease in remaining teeth in both normal bone density (β = -0.39) and osteoporosis groups (β = -0.52).
- A significant interaction (β = -0.34, P < 0.05) indicated a stronger inverse association between breastfeeding duration and remaining teeth in women with osteoporosis.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged breastfeeding duration is statistically associated with fewer remaining teeth in postmenopausal women.
- This association is stronger in women with osteoporosis, suggesting osteoporosis status modifies the relationship between breastfeeding and tooth retention.
- Targeted oral health monitoring may be beneficial for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and extended breastfeeding histories.
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