The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding at least until six months of age and better if it lasts until two years of age. Mothers who decide to continue breastfeeding over that period of time increase the risk of dental caries in their children, according to a study by Australian researchers.

 

Follow-up on the feeding of 1303 children. Information on breastfeeding was collected at birth and when children were 3 months, 1 year and 2 years old, while data on sugar consumption were collected at ages 2, 4 and 5, the report published in The journal Pediatrics, of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

 

At 5 years of age, the prevalence of severe caries (at least six affected teeth) was 23.9%. Children who had breastfed for 24 months or more had a 2.4 times higher risk than those who were breastfed until 12 months of age. "Breastfeeding between 13 and 23 months had no effect on dental caries," the report said.

 

"Prolonged breastfeeding increases the risk of dental caries. Preventive dental caries interventions should be established as soon as possible because breastfeeding is beneficial to the health of children," the study concludes.

 

In fact, colostrum or liquid precursor to breast milk is a kind of "super-vaccine" that the newborn receives.

 

Drinking fluoridated water or cleaning a child's teeth with fluoride toothpaste are oral hygiene alternatives.

 

Caries is a bacterial infection that destroys the dentin (the outer layer of the teeth). In the first 15 minutes, after lactation or the child takes some sugary liquid, bacteria in the teeth swarm and these cause cavities.