What Are the Potential Benefits and Risks of Premasticated Foods?

Discussion Premastication is the prechewing of foods or medicines by another person before feeding to an infant. It is also used to pretaste or temperature test foods. It was a common practice for millennia, especially before modern food technology, as a way to transition an infant from a solely liquid based diet to a mixed diet mainly of solid food. Rates of premastication vary, with less developed countries having an increased incidence/prevalence (up to 50%) but it is not uncommon in developed countries (in the US 14% is reported). Saliva is also used to clean other people, treat cuts/itches or insect bites as well. Placement of an avulsed tooth in the patient’s or another person’s mouth is also one of the preferred ways to transport avulsed teeth before treatment. Learning Point Premastication has potential benefits and risks which include: Potential benefits Makes a wider variety of foods available and more affordable May help with immunotolerance and immunosensitization potentially decreasing allergy Can be an important cultural practice Saliva Has bactericidal effects which could be transferred to infant Has digestive enzymes to help break down food Protective effect against Respiratory syncytial virus Potential risks for Choking hazard Group A Streptococcus Streptococcus mutans and dental caries Helicobacter pylori Cytomegalovirus Epstein-Barr virus Hepatitis B Human herpes virus 8 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – appears to need blood...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news