Abstract
Abstract Objectives: investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and the incidence of severe caries in preschoolers. Methods: a cohort study was conducted with 132 pairs of mothers and children in the city of Diamantina, Brazil. Data collection was performed in 2 moments: when the children were between two and three years of age (baseline- 2013/2014) and after three years (T1-2016/2017). In both moments, children were evaluated for dental caries (International Caries Detection and Assessment System - ICDAS) and a questionnaire was administered to the mothers addressing socioeconomic aspects and thee habits of children. The outcome evaluated was the incidence of severe caries (Dentin caries - ICDAS Codes 5 and 6). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi-squared test and Poisson hierarchical regression with robust variance. Results: children who breastfed for more than 24 months (RR = 2.24 CI95%= 1.23-4.08), those whose parents were separated (RR = 1.73 CI95%= 1.11-2.69), and those with estab-lished/severe caries (RR = 2.74 CI95%= 1.37-5.49) at baseline were at greater risk of incidence of severe caries after three years. Conclusion: breastfeeding for more than 24 months is a risk factor for incidence of severe caries. In addition, family structure and established or severe baseline caries were associated.
Highlights
Dental caries is a common chronic disease in childhood and highly prevalent throughout the world.[1]
Considering the hypothesis that prolonged breastfeeding for more than 24 months may be associated with a higher incidence of severe caries, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and the incidence of dental caries in preschoolers
The present study investigated the association between prolonged breastfeeding and severe caries in preschoolers
Summary
Dental caries is a common chronic disease in childhood and highly prevalent throughout the world.[1] Prevention and control of dental caries in primary teeth is challenging and this condition is considered a public health problem due to the high costs for society as well as the negative impact on the quality of life of affected children and their families.[2]. Breastmilk has all the components necessary to meet the nutritional and immunological needs of infants.[3] The act of breastfeeding has benefits in terms of emotional aspects, health, growth, learning and the development of the functions of the stomatognathic system.[3,4] breastfeeding offers health benefits for the mother, such as a greater spacing between childbirths as well as a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.[3,5,6] The World Health Organization[7] (WHO) and health authorities recommend that all infants be breastfed exclusively until six months of age, followed by the continuation of breastfeeding up to two years of age or more, complemented with other foods. A prospective cohort study is the most adequate design for the determination of associations.[10]
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