The benefits of breastfeeding are well known for the health of babies as well as mothers. That is why the breastfeeding support groups have an increasing influence on many groups in the Region of Murcia.
Among the most significant benefits for mothers we found:
- Reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer
- A lower incidence of postpartum haemorrhage.
For babieswe can highlight:
- Increased protection against infections
- Reduction of sudden infant death syndrome, among many others.
But how does breastfeeding affect the baby's mouth?
Although there is no conclusive scientific evidence for the relationship of breastfeeding to correct occlusionWe can affirm that breastfed children make less use of bottles and soothers and, therefore, this reduces the risk of developing malocclusion (i.e. that the child develops a bad bite or crowding of the teeth).
Breastfeeding favours jaw advancement (babies have a more posterior position of the jaw that moves forward with development), while bottle and dummy sucking make movements in the opposite direction. In addition, sucking on breast milk puts more strain on the baby's muscles, which results in greater tiredness and induces sleep, which is good for the baby's circadian rhythms, a fact that is favoured by contact with the mother. In addition, breast milk contains L-tryptophan, a
enzyme that promotes sleep, which, together with contact with the mother and the mother's breast, helps to get more sleep.
In terms of dental health, it has often been associated with the breastfeeding to the major current problem of the early-onset caries. However, to date there is no evidence scientifically, in such a way that the paediatric dentistry professionals we strongly promote breastfeedingtaking into account the following factors:
– Avoid salivary transmission habits. The baby's mouth is free of bacteria when it is born, but not for long. It gradually becomes colonised, and it is very important that the first bacteria that come into contact with it are not pathogenic. Habits such as sharing eating utensils, cleaning the soother with our mouth or blowing on food to cool it can encourage the transmission of bacteria. This is why good family oral health is so important, with an emphasis on maternal oral health first and foremost. The later the bacteria responsible for caries come into contact with the child's mouth, the lower the risk of early-onset caries.
– Toothbrushing at least twice a day. From the moment the first tooth is born, brushing should begin. The use of toothpaste should be assessed by your paediatric dentist on a patient-by-patient basis.
– Space the feeding interval (milk or solids) at least 2 hours apart. Saliva has the capacity to remineralise the enamel, but it needs at least two hours. If sugar is introduced into the mouth in a shorter interval, the saliva loses this capacity.
– Try not to put the baby to sleep with food in the mouth, from
the moment teeth are present. Children should sleep with their mouths clean.
– Delay the introduction of sugar as much as possible. Sucrose, the most commonly used sugar in confectionery and food, is the most harmful to teeth. Several studies have shown that the consumption of this sugar in the first years of life is capable of influencing the prevalence of future caries lesions.
– Visiting a paediatric dentist before the first year of life, with the aim of guiding us in oral health prevention.
Clara Serna Muñoz
Master's Degree in Paediatric Dentistry from the San Rafael Hospital in Madrid.
Exclusive Paediatric Dentistry Practice in Murcia
NOTE: All images in this entry are copyrighted by the Lactando Murcia Association, within the framework of its 2013 Call for Photography Awards.