title: Influence of breastfeeding on children's oral skills.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of oral habits and breastfeeding on the oral skills of children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study evaluated the oral skills of 125 nine-month-old-children born at term, belonging to Macro-Midwest region of Rio Grande do Sul between August 2010 and March 2011. Variables included evaluating oral skills and information on breastfeeding and weaning. The results were analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Breastfeeding positively influenced the acquisition of oral skills sucking at nine months of age (OR 3.1, 95%CI 1.2;8.3) and using a pacifier had a negative effect (OR 0.1, 95%CI 0.03;0.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was found that breastfeeding contributed to mature orofacial as it improved the ability of oral suction. Pacifier use was shown to affect the functioning of the stomatognathic system. This should be made clear to parents and the use of pacifiers during infancy should be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação dos Distúrbios da Comunicação Humana, Curso de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil. slisiane@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lisiane Martins da
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Leila Sauer
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Prade
authors.forename: Aneline Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ruedell
authors.forename: Léris Salete Bonfanti
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Haeffner
authors.forename: Angela Regina Maciel
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Weinmann
mesh_terms: D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology; D041361:Pacifiers / Q000009:adverse effects; D013284:Stomatognathic System / Q000502:physiology; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*