Breastfeeding and its Preventive Role in Malocclusion

Breastfeeding is an unequaled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. Ineffective breastfeeding and decreased duration of breastfeeding was associated with lack of satiety, poor positioning thereby leading to poor neuromuscular development of the infant. This further leads to higher incidences of malocclusion in the dentition. Performing effective breastfeeding techniques has been shown to be important to establish breastfeeding, ensures milk transfer, and prevent breastfeeding issues. Exclusive breastfeeding is strongly and inversely associated with the frequency, intensity, and duration of pacifier use, which may lead to severe malocclusion.