Impact of Breastfeeding and Cosleeping on Early Childhood Caries: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The type and duration of breastfeeding can be key factors in the development of early childhood caries (ECC). The association between nighttime feeding and ECC was investigated. Specifically, whether cosleeping is a potential mediator of children’s oral health was investigated, considering many of the etiological factors of caries. In this cross-sectional study, 212 children (aged 2–4 years) from Madrid (Spain) who breastfed at night were examined to assess the mean decayed/filled primary teeth (dft) index, and a questionnaire was administered to the mothers to collect data on the practice of breastfeeding and cosleeping and its duration, the number of nighttime feeding sessions, sugar content in the diet, dental hygiene habits, and age at first dental visit. The dft index was lower in the group that breastfed for less than 18 months (p = 0.02). In addition, there were significant differences in the dft index in the group breastfeeding for more than 18 months between those who coslept for 18 months or more and those who coslept for less than 18 months (p < 0.05), as well as between those who coslept for 18 months or more and those who did not cosleep (p < 0.01). In conclusion, breastfeeding at night from 18 months onwards is considered a risk factor for ECC.

Early Childhood Caries and Nutritional Status of Children: A Review

“…Moreover, it was found that infants who continued to breastfeed for 18 months or more, nevertheless sleeping independently without continuous breastfeeding at night, had a relatively lower rate of dental caries than those who co-slept. 40…”

“…Moreover, it was found that infants who continued to breastfeed for 18 months or more, nevertheless sleeping independently without continuous breastfeeding at night, had a relatively lower rate of dental caries than those who co-slept. 40 Kubota et al 46 also explained that among child-rearing factors, breastfeeding, and night-time breastfeeding after 18 months were significantly associated with ECC. Achmad et al 37 reported that the caries number was 75.2% in the group which breastfed for more than 12 months.…”

“…48 In addition, breastfeeding in the early morning was found to be a causal effect on ECC. 49 Carrillo-Díaz et al 40 reported that, when the mother co-slept and breastfed the child at night, babies tended to breastfeed frequently without waking the mother. Therefore, the mother was unable to do the oral cleaning, after the feeding which resulted in the onset and progress of carious lesions.…”

Anne Sütü Ve Di̇ş Sağliği

“…18 aydan daha az anne sütü alanlarda dmft'in daha düşük olduğunu; 18 aydan fazla ve geceleri sık emzirmenin ise çürük risk faktörü olduğunu bildirmişlerdir. 47 Chanpum ve ark., anne sütüyle beslenmiş 9-18 aylık 513 çocuk ve annesinde gerçekleştirdikleri çalışmada dişler plak ve çürük açısından incelenmiş, annelerin emzirme davranışları ve çocukların oral hijyen alışkanlıkları anket aracılığı ile sorgulanmış; plak skorları yüksek olan ve emzirilerek uykuya dalan çocuklarda EÇÇ görülme oranının daha yüksek olduğu, çürük oluşumunda en önemli faktörün ise dental plak miktarı olduğu belirtilmiştir. 48 Devenish ve ark., 2-3 yaş grubu 2181 çocukta yaptıkları çalışmada, dmft değerleri ölçülmüş ve 3, 6, 12, 24 ayda anne sütüyle beslenme alışkanlıkları, 1 yaş sonrası şeker alımı ve sosyodemografik faktörler anket ile sorgulanmıştır.…”

Impact of breastfeeding and other early-life factors on the development of the oral microbiome

“…Thus, the influence of infant diet on the development of the oral microbiome should be considered. Such studies are crucial in light of the unresolved question on whether prolonged breastfeeding duration is causative of dental caries ( Iida et al, 2007 ; Nobile et al, 2014 ; Chaffee et al, 2015 ; Devenish et al, 2020 ; Carrillo-Diaz et al, 2021 ), necessitating high quality data to inform feeding decisions for parents.…”