Dr. Brian Palmer is a well-known defender of breast-feeding as it relates to dental caries. He believes that early childhood caries are a relatively new phenomenon. Palmer has examined the skulls of prehistoric to early historic infants and children in vari-ous museums. Less than 1.4 percent of teeth that were examined had decay. Of 1,344 deciduous teeth exam-ined, only 19 had any signs of decay, and of those 19, only four (0.3 percent) had significant decay. Anthropologists say that anatomically modern humans have been around for about 100,000 years, with modern humans being present for about 30,000 years. However, according to skull studies, early childhood caries have been around for only about 8,000 to 10,000 years, which suggests that babies and toddlers remained free of decay for about 92,000 years. As diets changed, caries increased. Presumably, prehistoric babies were breastfed, most likely all night long and possibly until they were toddlers or older. It seems improbable that human milk would cause decay-if it did, there would be decay evident in skulls older than 10,000 years. As Dr. Palmer and many anthro-pologists suggest, it would be "evolutionary suicide for human milk to cause decay." There are studies showing significant differences between human milk and most formulas. It was found that human milk does not significantly lower the pH in the mouth, while almost all brands of artificial baby milk did. The bacteria that contributes to decay, Streptococcus mutans, thrives in a low pH. Most formulas supported significant bacterial growth, while human milk supported only moderate bacterial growth. Formulas were found to dissolve tooth enamel, while human milk actually deposited calcium and phosphorus into enamel (remineralization). Researchers also concluded that human milk is not cariogenic unless another source of carbohydrates is available for bacteria to feed on. Most artificial baby milk formulas tested were cariogenic. The movement and action of breastfeeding promotes facial growth. According to Dr. William Sears, the complex action of the sucking motion influences better jaw development, stronger facial muscles and a health-ier palate shape. A study of close to 10,000 children found that those who were breastfed for a year or more were 40% less likely to require orthodontic treatment. If treatment was required, it was less involved. The better jaw development associated with breastfeeding can even mean less snoring and a lowered risk for obstructive sleep apnea. A constricted palate may result in blocked airflow during sleep, interrupted sleep patterns and can also lead to other health problems. 7. When is the best time to start weaning? Most proponents of baby lead weaning acknowledge that some signs of weaning are actually mistaken. Often what is perceived to be signs of self-weaning may be a growth spurt or the baby becoming more social. Around 4 to 6 months of age, babies become more aware of their surroundings and the business of feeding may suffer. Teething, ear infections or sore throat, may also be perceived as self-weaning. A mother should be aware of all of these possibilities before thinking it is time to wean, especially if it is under the recommended time of one year. Once a baby is eating solid foods, weaning has begun. A mother returning to work may find that her time and energy have become less and may need to concentrate on the breastfeeding, if that is her choice. Remember the less that artificial nipples and pacifiers are used, the better the oral develop-ment. Weaning is the gradual removal of a favored object. Mothers and babies wean at different times for different reasons. Preferably, weaning is done slowly over a few weeks. 8. What are the economic, psychological, sociological benefits of breastfeeding? According to a 2001 study, a minimum of $3.6 billion would be saved annually if breastfeeding increased from the current levels of 64% in hospital, 29% at six months, to the recommended of 75% and 50% at six months. This may be an underestimation of the real savings as it only represents the savings from treatment of only three childhood diseases: otitis media, gastroenteritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis. In areas of unclean water, it is much healthier to breastfeed than to mix formula with water that is likely to cause illness. Researchers have found that there are several social factors that correlate with differences in the initiation, frequency and duration of breastfeeding practices. Race, ethnic differences and socioeconomic factors have been shown to affect a mother’s choice of whether or not to breastfeed and how long the child is breastfed. Using formula can cost upwards of $2000 a year. But it has been shown that usually those of the higher socio economic groups are breastfeeding longer. www.orthodontics.com November/December 2011 31 6. Does breastfeeding also affect the growth of the mandible? Aside from genetic predisposition, the greatest influ-ence on facial development is the position of the tongue, as many dentists and orthodontists have realized. Encouraging facial growth and good dental occlusion may make more sense than waiting until teeth have become crowded. As noted, 90% of head growth and 80% of jaw growth occurs by six years of age, and at this point, it is then possible to detect underdevelopment of the facial bones in relation to the rest of the skull. Breastfeeding places the action of sucking at the back of the mouth where the tongue action should gradually tip backwards. Once solid foods are introduced, the continued sucking of bottles, sippy cups and boxes of juice with straws will keep the tongue forward and in the floor of the mouth. If there are finger or thumb habits as well as a paci-fier, this will also add to developmental problems.
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society November-December 2011: Page 31
