Autor(es):
Marques, Sofia Cameron ; Baptista, Manuel ; Magalhães, Inês ; Morais, Juliana ; Ferreira, Ana Filipa ; Pestana, Rebeca ; Jerónimo, Maria Luís ; Pinto, Carla ; Sousa, Marta ; Pires, Inês Falcão ; Deuster, Denise ; Zaura, Egija ; Areias, Cristina ; Maia, Benedita Sampaio
Data: 2025
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/30846
Origem: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Assunto(s): Malocclusions; Breastfeeding; Bottle feeding; Non-nutritive sucking habits; Solid food introduction
Descrição
Breastfeeding plays an important role in the development of the craniofacial complex (1,2). However, the role of breastfeeding duration, non-nutritive sucking habits, and the timing of solid food introduction on the development of malocclusions is still in debate (25). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate these associations in a birth cohort. In the ongoing OralBioBorn birth cohort, occlusion of three-year-old children was assessed in maxiumum intercuspidation, examining the left and right sides, followed by a frontal assessment. In addition, the information on breastfeeding type and duration, solid food introduction, and non-nutritive sucking habits was collected through a parental questionnaire. Preliminary data from 39 children revealed a high prevalence of open bite (33.3%), crossbite (20.5%), and overbite (10.3%). Scissor bite, high/narrow palate, and crowding were observed in only one child each. The relationship between these occlusal characteristics and breastfeeding duration, non-nutritive sucking habits, and solid food introduction will be further explored. The preliminary findings suggest that malocclusions are frequent at an early age, reinforcing the need to investigate their potential early-life determinants. Future work will involve a more in-depth analysis of the associations between occlusal development and early feeding practices, considering additional factors such as genetic predisposition and environmental influences. Longitudinal follow-up of this cohort will provide valuable insights into the long-term impact of breastfeeding and oral habits on craniofacial growth, ultimately contributing to early preventive strategies.
