Monitor your child’s teeth to prevent cavities. According to a recent Brazilian study, the consumption of sugar and the early interruption of breastfeeding are dental caries risk factors in the infant. This conclusion is that of a study conducted on 800 children and published in the scientific journal Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology.
Researchers found that including sugar in children’s diets and stopping breastfeeding early increased the risk of developing cavities by age two. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by solid foods and continued breastfeeding on demand until the age of 2 years. The WHO also advises once morest giving added sugar to infants before the age of 2 years.
Increased risk of cavities
“Some previous studies have found an association between prolonged breastfeeding and the occurrence of dental caries, but without properly accounting for the role of early added sugar intake by these children. Our research has shown that the increased risk of cavities in the context of prolonged breastfeeding is correlated with sugar consumption,” summarized Marly Augusto Cardoso, lead researcher on the project and professor at the University’s School of Public Health. of Sao Paulo (FSP-USP).
In detail, dental caries was found in 22.8% of the 800 children followed. Specifically, children breastfed for more than 24 months were at higher risk than those breastfed for 12 months or less. “We observed that breastfeeding for 24 months reduced consumption of ultra-processed foods or foods with added sugar, acting as a protection factor once morest dental caries,” said the scientist. Regarding sugar consumption, 2.8% of children never consumed sugar before their second birthday. 66.7% ate sugary foods more than five times a day. Only 7.6% did not consume any added sugar during the first year of life.
Improve eating habits
“Even if the affected teeth are baby or milk teeth, eating habits such as the consumption of large amounts of sugar in early childhood tend to become lifelong and pose a risk of developing dental caries later in life. Other studies have also shown that having dental caries in early childhood generally means having them in adolescence as well,” warned Jenny Abanto, who also participated in this study.
