A study by Brazilian researchers shows that early cessation of breastfeeding and sugar consumption are factors that increase the risk of tooth decay in children.
The study was conducted on a group of 800 children and was published in the journal Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology.
Researchers have observed that the intake of sugar in the children’s diet as well as the early cessation of breastfeeding increases the risk of tooth decay in children up to the age of two.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for at least the first six months of the baby, followed by solid foods without added sugar and continued breastfeeding until the age of two.
Brazilian researchers observed that breastfeeding for 24 months reduced consumption of ultra-processed foods or foods with added sugar, a protective factor against tooth decay, says Marly Augusto Cardoso, lead researcher and professor at the University’s School of Public Health from San Paolo.
Even if the affected teeth are “baby teeth”, eating habits such as consuming large amounts of sugar from childhood tend to become permanent, increasing the risk of tooth decay later as an adult.
Also, other studies have shown that the presence of dental caries in early childhood paves the way for caries in adolescence, points out Jenny Abanto, who participated in the research from the University of San Paolo.
