Review Regarding the Impact of Breastfeeding on Early Childhood Caries.

BACKGROUND

Early childhood caries (ECC) compromise the nutrition, growth, and quality of life in young children, and their relationship with breastfeeding practices remains disputed.

AIM: To determine if prolonged breastfeeding increases the risk of dental caries in children aged under 71 months.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, and Evidence-Based Dentistry, was conducted through August 2025, including observational studies, randomized trials, narrative reviews, and meta-analyses on breastfeeding and ECC.

RESULTS

Thirty-one studies involving 28,000 children were included. Exclusive breastfeeding for under six months halves ECC probability (OR 0.53-0.58), whereas breastfeeding beyond 12 months and nocturnal feeds increase probability by 60-86% (OR 2.35-7.14). Parental factors-high plaque levels, feeding-to-sleep, and skipped post-feed cleaning-strongly predict ECC (OR 8.51-75.6). Interventions combining feeding counseling with home visits or visual aids reduce ECC incidence by 22-32% (RR 0.68-0.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Exclusive breastfeeding through six months is protective against ECC, but prolonged or nocturnal feeding heightens risk. Integrating structured oral health education into breastfeeding promotion is recommended.