Evaluation of Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding on Childhood Caries Experience: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2018.
Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine
This study evaluated associations among breastfeeding duration and combined breast/formula feeding on childhood dental caries.This was a cross-sectional study of 3- to 6-year-old children (n =1,256) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2018. Duration of breastfeeding and breast/formula feeding were assessed through structured interviews. Caries experience was assessed as having at least 1 decayed and filled tooth. Survey-weighted logistic regression adjusted for confounders evaluated associations.The average maternal age at delivery was 28 years (standard error=0.28). About half (49.7%) of the children were girls. Thirty-eight percent of the children were breastfed for no more than 6 months, 20% for more than 6 to 12 months, and approximately 9% were breastfed for more than 12 to 18 months and over 18 months, while 24% were exclusively formula-fed. Relative to children breastfed for no more than 6 months, those breastfed for longer than 18 months had a nonsignificant covariate-adjusted caries experience odds (odds ratio [OR]=1.55, 95 percent confidence interval [95% CI]=0.80 to 3.01). Relative to children who were exclusively breastfed, those who were nonconcurrently breastfed/formula-fed (ie, there was no overlap in breastfeeding and formula feeding) had higher covariate-adjusted caries experience odds (OR=3.01, 95% CI=1.18 to 7.67).Nonconcurrent breast/formula feeding was associated with increased dental caries prevalence. Additional studies are nee
Abstract
This study evaluated associations among breastfeeding duration and combined breast/formula feeding on childhood dental caries.This was a cross-sectional study of 3- to 6-year-old children (n =1,256) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2018. Duration of breastfeeding and breast/formula feeding were assessed through structured interviews. Caries experience was assessed as having at least 1 decayed and filled tooth. Survey-weighted logistic regression adjusted for confounders evaluated associations.The average maternal age at delivery was 28 years (standard error=0.28). About half (49.7%) of the children were girls. Thirty-eight percent of the children were breastfed for no more than 6 months, 20% for more than 6 to 12 months, and approximately 9% were breastfed for more than 12 to 18 months and over 18 months, while 24% were exclusively formula-fed. Relative to children breastfed for no more than 6 months, those breastfed for longer than 18 months had a nonsignificant covariate-adjusted caries experience odds (odds ratio [OR]=1.55, 95 percent confidence interval [95% CI]=0.80 to 3.01). Relative to children who were exclusively breastfed, those who were nonconcurrently breastfed/formula-fed (ie, there was no overlap in breastfeeding and formula feeding) had higher covariate-adjusted caries experience odds (OR=3.01, 95% CI=1.18 to 7.67).Nonconcurrent breast/formula feeding was associated with increased dental caries prevalence. Additional studies are needed to confirm these results and evaluate underlying mechanisms.