Abstract
As the termination of breast-feeding was associated with dental caries susceptibility in our research,a total of 238 children who received dental examinations and obtained information through a ques tionnaire, were subjected to a dental survey. 114 children of the breast-feeding group were categorized into the five groups according to the termination of breast-feeding during the period of 6 months. The rate of maxillary incisors affected by dental caries per infant was calculated and the frequency of sweets and sweet beverages in one day and the Cariostat value were then calculated for each group. Furthermore,98 children with the termination of breast-feeding beyond one year were investigated to assess the frequency of feeding in one day, and the frequency of feeding in one night. Based on the analyses, the following interesting findings were obtained.
1.The longer children were breast-fed, the significantly higher the rate of teeth affected by dental caries was.
2.The longer children were breast-fed, the more significantly the mean number of the frequency of feeding in one day and in one night (beyond one year) was.
3.The longer children were breast-fed, the more significantly the mean number of the frequency of sweets and sweet beverages in one day was.
In conclusion, the children with a longer duration of breast-feeding had a higher rate of teeth affected by dental caries. The children with a longer duration of breast-feeding had a higher frequency of feeding and higher frequency of sweets and sweet beverages.
Moreover, the present results indicate that the higher the frequency of feeding is, the higher the frequency of sweets and sweet beverages is. These findings indicated that a longer duration of breast feeding induced a higher rate of teeth affected by dental caries.
These findings indicated that infant feeding habits, 'Termination of breast-feeding' and 'Frequency of breast-feeding', were strongly associated with dental caries susceptibility per infant.
Moreover, it is indicated that infant feeding habits could be associated with the frequency of sweets and sweet beverages.
It will be important for the support of infant breast-feeding to advise a preventive dental care appropriately.
