September 2008

Volume 25, Issue 3

Association between breastfeeding duration and non-nutritive sucking habits

Authors: H. Scavone-Jr C.H. Guimarães-Jr R.I. Ferreira A.C.R. Nahás F. Vellini-Ferreira
doi: 10.1922/CDH_2091-Scavone05

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the relationship between breastfeeding duration and the prevalence of non-nutritive sucking habits in children with deciduous dentition. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted on the mothers of 551 children aged 3 to 6 years, randomly selected from public pre-schools in São Paulo, Brazil. Mothers were asked to complete a questionnaire that included items regarding their children’s age, gender, race, method and duration of infant feeding, as well as pacifier use and/or digit-sucking habits. According to the answers pertinent to the method and duration of infant feeding, children were assigned to five groups: 1 – never breastfed, 2 – breastfed for a period shorter than 3 months of life, 3 – breastfed for 3 to 6 months, 4 – breastfed for 6 to 9 months, and 5 – breastfed for 9 months or longer. Data were submitted to the Fisher’s exact test with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons to analyse possible associations between breastfeeding duration period categories and non-nutritive sucking behaviours. Results Pacifier use frequency was high in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 (85%, 87.6%, 78% and 70%, respectively), in comparison with that in group 5 (38.6%). The prevalence of non-nutritive sucking habits was significantly reduced in children who were breastfed for nine months or longer (p=0.000). There were no statistically significant differences in the frequencies of pacifier use and/or digit-sucking habits between genders, regardless of the breastfeeding duration period. Conclusion Children aged 3-6 years who were breastfed for nine months or longer had a lower prevalence of non-nutritive sucking habits. Key words: Breastfeeding, deciduous dentition, sucking habits

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Editorial - Research on oral health and the quality of life – a critical overview 130-131 Download
Comparison of two methods in deriving a short version of oral health-related quality of life measure. 132-136 Download
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The presenting complaints of low income adults for emergency dental care: An analysis of 35,000 episodes in Victoria, Australia. 143-147 Download
International variation in the incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer 148-153 Download
Caries prevalence in 2-year-old children in the city of Zurich 154-160 Download
Association between breastfeeding duration and non-nutritive sucking habits 161-165 Download
I want braces: factors motivating patients and their parents to seek orthodontic treatment. 166-169 Download
Cariogenic and erosive potential of the medication used by HIV-infected children: pH and sugar concentration 170-172 Download
Prevalence of breath malodour in 7-11 year old children living in Middle Anatolia, Turkey. 173-177 Download
Enamel fluorosis in 12- and 15-year-old school children in Costa Rica. Results of a National Survey, 1999 178-184 Download
Restorative treatment threshold reported by Iranian dentists 185-190 Download
Short Communication - Fissure sealants on permanent first molars – consequences of a one-year delay 191-192 Download

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