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: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
More News: African Health | Allergy | Allergy & Immunology | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Children | China Health | Cytomegalovirus | Databases & Libraries | Diets | Education | Fruit | Group A Streptococcus | Helicobacter Pylori | Hepatitis | Hepatitis B | Herpes | Insect Bites & Stings | Learning | Milk | Nutrition | Pediatrics | Respiratory Medicine | Study | Tooth Decay | Universities & Medical Training