title: Breastfeeding: Nature's Safety Net.
abstract: Breastfeeding is a natural safety-net for the first few months in order to give the child a fairer start to life. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes the distinct nutritional advantages of human milk for infants and endorsed the position of the American Academy of Pediatrics on the promotion of breastfeeding. It therefore calls for increase in need to negotiate the roles and responsibilities of pediatric dentists to eliminate the existing gaps in preventive care and anticipatory guidance. The objective of this evidence-based review is to explore the beneficial roles of breastfeeding in orofacial growth and development and endorse the same through anticipatory guidance. How to cite this article: Agarwal M, Ghousia S, Konde S, Raj S. Breastfeeding: Nature's Safety Net. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2012;5(1):49-53.
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, AECS Maaruti College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru Karnataka, India, e-mail: drmani29@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Pedodontics, AECS Maaruti College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghousia
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, AECS Maaruti College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konde
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, AECS Maaruti College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raj
keywords: Anticipatory guidance; Breastfeeding; Orofacial growth and development