A systematic review on the relationship between feeding practice of milk and oral conditions/functions of infants

Abstract

For evidence-based nutrition counseling, we conducted a systematic review on the relationship between breast-or bottle feeding and oral conditions/functions of infants. We searched peerreviewed research papers published between 1980 and 2017 by five literature databases. Two authors independently examined their titles, abstracts and texts, and 45 literatures that met the inclusion criteria were extracted. After that, we manually searched references cited in the adopted articles. As a result, it was suggested that weaning at 12 to 18 months of age, as recommended in the "lactation and weaning guide book," reduced the risk of dental caries. As for dentition and masticatory ability, breastfeeding or use of baby bottle should be stopped by this time point as well.