Breastfeeding, sucking habits and malocclusions in 6-year-old schoolchildren.

Abstract

Introduction: Malocclusions are a challenge in oral health. Breastfeeding can promote the proper development of the stomatognathic system, while avoiding non-nutritive sucking, such as the use of bottles and pacifiers, can prevent abnormalities. Objective: Determine breastfeeding times, sucking habits and their relationship with malocclusions in 6-year-old schoolchildren. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out on 940 6-year-old children from public schools in 5 urban communities in Chile. A clinical examination was performed by six calibrated dentists using the GRCO Clinical Reference Guide to Orthodontics and a questionnaire was applied to the tutor. STATA®, Release 16.1 was used in statistical analysis. To see possible relationships between sucking habits and malocclusions, a proportion test was used (p<0.05). Results: The prevalence of malocclusions was 60.2%. A decrease in malocclusions was observed in the presence of breastfeeding, mainly when it lasted more than 6 months (p=0.0053). There is a greater presence of malocclusions in individuals who used a bottle, in individuals who used a pacifier for more than 3 years (p=0.008) and in those who had digital suction for more than 3 years (p=0.0003). Conclusions: The importance of breastfeeding for at least 6 months as a protective factor against malocclusions and the negative influence of prolonged non-nutritive sucking on the development of malocclusions are highlighted.