The right nutrition for a child up to the age of six months is breast milk. Breastfeeding should be continued until it is comfortable for the mother, no matter how many solid foods are introduced. Human milk has an ideal composition that provides antibodies to protect infants from any illness. Colostrum protects the GI (Glass ionomer) lining of babies. It also reduces the risks of ear and respiratory infections. Since fats in breast milk can be easily emulsified, breastfeeding prevents risks of arterial diseases.
On the other hand, formula milk is a blend of skimmed cow milk with several preservatives, emulsifiers, enzymes, and amino acids. These are not natural sources of nutrition for infants and cannot be easy. It fails to provide a natural defense mechanism to infants against any infection as compared to breast milk. Moreover, breastfeeding has psychological benefits for both infants and mothers and enhances the bond between the two.
Besides proven benefits on systemic health of infants, breastfeeding has been advantageous in maintaining good oral health. Feeding human milk affects the two most important aspects of oral health, teeth alignment, and dental caries.
Teeth Alignment
Breastfeeding has a direct effect on facial muscles and jaw movements. It stimulates facial muscles and helps in the growth of teeth and jaw. During breast suckling, the tongue is placed at a lower position on the lower jaw, and milk is squeezed through constant suctioning movements of lips, jaw, and tongue. However, bottle-fed infants have passive movements, wherein the tongue creates a negative pressure against the nipple of the bottle to squeeze out the milk. The flow of milk is continuous because of which oral muscles do not work, resulting in a lack of development of oral structures, jaw, and teeth. Bottle feeding can also result in crowding problems between teeth, incorrect teeth alignment, and interference in palatal growth.
Dental Decay
The composition of human milk consists of lactose. This lactose does not provide a favorable medium for the oral bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, to the harbor and causes demineralization of teeth. Streptococcus mutans are unable to metabolize lactose sugar completely, therefore cannot cause dental caries. Moreover, antibodies like IgA, IgG, and proteins present in human milk inhibit bacterial growth.
On the other hand, formula milk consists of sucrose which, when in contact with teeth, makes them more susceptible to bacterial demineralization. Also, during the process of bottle sucking, the nipple of the bottle rests on the palate, thus blocking the salivary flow in the upper incisor area, making them more susceptible to dental caries. However, care of baby teeth is still recommended, and cleaning with wet gauze should be done after feeding human milk.
Lastly, it has been well proven that breastfeeding has a positive impact on both child and mother. Breastfed infants are much healthier and happy kids.
For better understanding, book an appointment with the best dental clinic in Gurgaon, World of Dentistry.
