The Effect of Breast and Bottle Feeding on Dental Caries in Preschool Children

Introduction: This study evaluates the effect of breast and bottle feeding on the severity and age of onset of early childhood caries (ECC). This prospective study conducted at the dental clinic of King Hussein Medical Center between March 2020 and July 2020. All preschool children who attended to the dental clinic suffering from dental caries were included in the study. Methodology: All preschool children who attended to the dental clinic suffering from dental caries were included in the study. A detailed history was obtained regarding age, gender, medical diseases, dental history, duration, frequency, and patterns of infant feeding. The patients were divided into 3 groups; the 1st group are those with exclusive breast feeding, the 2nd group are those with excusive bottle feeding and the 3rd group are those with mixed bottle and breast feeding. The age of onset of the caries was recorded. The severity of dental caries using DMFT index was explored in the groups. The obtained data was analyzed and compared with other studies. Results: 240 patients with aged between 3 and 6 years (mean 4.6 +/- 1.1) were enrolled in the study. A bout 55% of them was males. The commonest method of feeding for children was combined breast and bottle feeding (43%) followed by exclusive breast feeding (34%) and bottle feeding (23%). The highest DMFT score was found among patients with bottle feeding (4.9). The highest DMFT scores and earlier onset of caries were observed among patients who were breast fed (5.2, 3.2) or bottle fed (4.8,3.1) for more than 2 years respectively. Patients who were fed at night or those with frequent daily feeding at a rate of more than 6 times were associated with more sever forms of dental caries. Conclusion: Bottle feeding, nocturnal feeding and prolonged and frequent breast feeding were associated with more sever forms and earlier onset of dental caries in preschool children. Therefore, exclusive daily breast feeding at a rate not exceeding 6 times daily and for a duration not exceeding 12 months is recommended as a habit of feeding for infants.