Does Breastfeeding Make Baby's Teeth Crooked?
Every woman is aware that breastfeeding helps them to have healthy babies. Research provides evidence about babies’ health and nutritional benefits when breastfed. However, do you know breastfeeding also offers several positive effects on your child’s dental health? If not, women find it beneficial to discuss how their child benefits from breastfeeding with the Brampton dental office for help.
Women of newborns are usually overexcited with every week their baby and every act of the child during the initial days after birth. For example, new moms think about feeding the child every time they wail, thinking it is a sign of hunger. Women who don’t consider their baby might only seek attention when crying and wanting to be held close for some warmth. Unfortunately, many women don’t collect sufficient information about the benefits of breastfeeding or the adverse effects it can have on the child’s dental health. In reality, women never think about the child’s teeth during the first six months of birth.
How Does Breastfeeding Affect Baby Teeth?
Studies published in pediatrics noted that exclusively breastfed babies during the initial six months benefited by being less likely to develop crooked teeth by 72 percent. In addition, the study indicated the chances of developing open bites, crossbites, and overbites diminished significantly in babies who were breastfed for below six months or not at all.
Experts conducting the study believe the lower risk of babies developing misaligned teeth or jaw is because of the muscle mechanics involved when breastfeeding. When seeking pediatric dentist treatment from the dental office in Brampton, mothers of newborns receive information that their baby uses their tongue and jaw when breastfeeding besides dear facial muscles with more coordination to help strengthen their jaw muscles. As a result, the stronger jaw they develop creates a foundation for aligning their teeth correctly. Therefore the theory that breastfeeding makes a baby’s teeth crooked does not hold well.
The information provided herein doesn’t confirm that growing children might not require braces as they grow. However, your child’s teeth can get adversely affected by practices like pacifier use, thumb-sucking, genetics, et cetera to need orthodontic treatment because it affects the alignment of their teeth. Therefore family dentists recommend limiting the baby’s habits of pacifier use and thumb sucking.
Breastfeeding Reduces the Risks of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Babies often fall victim to baby bottle tooth decay which parents believe cannot happen. Unfortunately, the problem of this specific condition affects many children because of the lack of knowledge and placing the baby in bed with a bottle of formula, fruit juice, or milk. In addition, babies often tend to fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth, exposing their teeth to sugars in the liquids longer. In such cases, the baby’s upper front teeth are often the primary victims. However, breastfeeding alone doesn’t confirm your child’s teeth might not develop tooth decay.
Cavities Are Problem Even When Breastfeeding
Breastmilk contains sugar similar to formula. Therefore mothers of newborns must care for their baby’s teeth and gums starting shortly after birth. The Brampton dentist suggests getting the baby to burp after every feed and wiping their gums with a clean and damp washcloth. After the infant’s teeth start developing, they require brushing with rice grain-sized fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled baby toothbrush.
Does bottle Feeding Affect Teeth Alignment?
Bottle feeding requires less effort on the facial muscles and jawbone, which are essential when breastfeeding. Bottle-fed babies need minimal effort to suck milk, and the continuous flow of milk on the bottle results in weaker facial movements, including the muscles, lip and tongue that are essential for developing jawbone and teeth alignment. Bottled feeding can result in dental issues such as crowding between baby’s teeth, incorrect teeth alignment, and problems with palatal growth. Fortunately, breastfed babies must make a continuous effort when sucking milk, helping stimulate the movement of facial muscles to assist in the development and proper alignment of their teeth.
Breastfeeding will likely not contribute to orthodontic issues in your child, like bottle feeding, where the chances of developing problems are higher. Therefore mothers of newborns who are suggested to breastfeed their babies must consider the suggestion and follow their physical care provider’s advice stringently.
If you have a newborn and are worried about breastfeeding making the baby’s teeth crooked, Rosedale Dental Care provides expert information on this subject. Kindly arrange an appointment with the practice to benefit your baby and their dental health later today.