Breastfeeding and Childhood Dental Caries: Results from a Socially Diverse Birth Cohort Study

This study was part of the Generation R Study, a prospective multiethnic cohort study conducted in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In total, 4,146 children were included in the analyses. Information about feeding practices was derived from delivery reports and questionnaires during infancy. Caries was measured via intraoral photographs at the age of 6 years and defined as decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft). Negative binomial hurdle regression analyses were used to study the associations between several infant feeding practices and childhood caries. The prevalence of dental caries at the age of 6 years was 27.9% (n = 1,158). Prolonged breastfeeding (for #x3e;12 months) was associated with dental caries (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04 –1.74) and the number of teeth affected by dental caries (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03–1.56). Furthermore, nocturnal bottle-feeding was associated with dental caries (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.20–1.93). All associations were independent of family SEP, ethnic background, and sugar intake. Results from this Dut ch cohort study confirmed the previously observed associations between prolonged breastfeeding and nocturnal bottle-feeding and the increased risk of childhood dental caries, even after proper adjustments for indicators of SEP, ethnic background, and sugar intake. Future studies are encouraged to el aborate further on possible explanations for the observed relationships. Healthcare professionals should be aware and advise caregivers about the potential risk o...
Source: Caries Research - Category: Dentistry Source Type: research