Associations between a history of breast feeding, malocclusion and parafunctional habits in Puerto Rican children.
Studies relating breast-feeding, malocclusion and parafunctional habits in young children are scarce.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the associations of a history of breast-feeding, incidence of malocclusion and parafunctional habits.


METHODS
The dental records of a sample of 540 children aged 6 to 72 months screened for oral conditions and behavioral risk factors were evaluated for variables such as a history of breastfeeding, malocclusion and parafunctional habits. Descriptive statistics using the EPI-INFO Program and Chi-square test at the 0.05 level of probability were performed.


RESULTS
The results showed that the mean age of the children was 28 months +/- 14. The mothers' mean age was 26.4 years +/- 6. The prevalence of breast-feeding was 34% with a mean breast-feeding time period of 3 m +/- 3.7. About 95% of the children had a history of bottle-feeding and 90% showed some evidence of malocclusion at the time of dental examination. The main malocclusion problems were space deficiency (closed contacts among incisors) (31%), open bites (6%) and crossbites (5%). A habit of thumb sucking was reported in 32% of the cases and pacifier use in 21%. there were significant differences for the following variables: mother's age and breast-feeding time period; number of children in family and breast-feeding time period; breast-feeding history and breast-feeding time with bottle use, malocclusion and thumb sucking habit; and gender and thumb-sucking habit.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that breast-feeding practices and time period are behavioral factors that contribute in the prevention of malocclusion in addition to decreasing the practice of parafunctional habits in preschool children.
López Del Valle
Lydia M
LM
University Of Puerto Rico, School of Dentistry, San Juan. LLOPEZ@RCM.UPR.EDU
Singh
G Dave
GD
Feliciano
Nilma
N
Machuca
María del Carmen
Mdel C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011647:Puerto Rico