title: Total Breast-Feeding Duration and Dental Caries in Healthy Urban Children.
abstract: To determine if there is an association between longer breast-feeding duration and dental caries in healthy urban children.
  
  
  
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of urban children aged 1 to 6 years recruited through The Applied Research Group for Kids (TARGet Kids!) practice-based research network between September 2011 and August 2013. The main outcome measure was parental report of dental caries.
  
  
  
  The adjusted predicted probability of dental caries was 7%, 8%, 11%, and 16% with total duration of breast-feeding duration of 12, 18, 24, and 36 months, respectively. In the adjusted logistic regression analyses, relative to breast-feeding 0 to 5 months, the odds of dental caries with total breast-feeding duration >24 months was 2.75 (95% confidence interval 1.61-4.72).
  
  
  
  Among healthy urban children, longer breast-feeding duration was associated with higher odds of dental caries. These findings support heightened awareness and enhanced anticipatory guidance for preventive dental care, particularly among children who breast-feed beyond 2 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Birken
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.affiliation: Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Isvarya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Venu
authors.affiliation: Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dental Science, College of Dentistry and Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schroth
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: jonathon.maguire@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Jonathon L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Maguire
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: breast feeding; dental caries; early childhood; nutrition; oral health