Abstract

PEREIRA CRUVINEL, Agnes de Fátima et al. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BREASTFEEDING DURATION, DELETERIOUS ORAL HABITS, AND DENTAL CARIES IN BABIES. Odontol. Clín.-Cient. (Online) [online]. 2016, vol.15, n.1, pp. 1-6. ISSN 1677-3888.

The association between breastfeeding and dental caries is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the experience of dental caries among exclusively breastfed infants and non-exclusively breastfed infants. Demographic data, dmft index scores, breastfeeding duration, and diagnosis of deleterious oral sucking habits were collected from 299 patient records of the Clinic of Babies of Cuiabá School of Dentistry. Statistical differences were considered to be significant with P values < 0.05. The results demonstrated a significant increase of experience of dental caries among exclusively breastfed infants. The mean of breastfeeding duration in infants with early childhood caries (ECC) diagnosis (14,7±8,7 months) was higher than those infants without ECC diagnosis (8,3±6,8 months) (P<0,001). The breastfeeding needs to be continuously estimulated because it prevents infections, infant mortality, oral breathing, deleterious oral sucking habits, besides favoring the maternal bonding. Higher risks of dental caries lesions among infants breastfed for longer, however, must lead family health teams to a special focus on the maintenance of good conditions of infants' oral health.

Keywords : Breastfeeding; Human Milk; Dental Caries; Health Education.