Breastfeeding brings with it numerous indisputable health benefits. It is very nourishing and extremely beneficial for the baby in the early developmental months. As of late, however, there have been various heated discussions and debates regarding the matter. Many new mothers have raised questions about the benefits of breastfeeding on the baby’s oral health. It is only natural for a mother to be concerned about her child’s well-being and aspiration to provide only the best for her baby. Breastfeeding is a very important exercise that is vital for preventing various oral and dental problems in the present as well as the future.
The subject has been studied upon and researched in detail through various studies. The results collected from these researches were astounding, to say the least. A major finding revealed that children who were breastfed as infants were less prone to oral and dental health issues as opposed to the children who were bottle fed. Breastfed children also exhibited better jaw and teeth development.
Here are some of the lesser known benefits of breastfeeding with regards to a baby’s oral health.
- Flexing Muscles and Oral Cavity Development
A child that has been breastfed is consistently under the practice of exercising its mouth muscles during suckling which helps tone and strengthen the muscles of the oral cavity. Jaw and surrounding muscle stimulation contribute to proper oral cavity development. An additional benefit of breastfeeding is the child’s advanced ability to flex tongue muscles properly in order to use the tongue during breastfeeding.
- Teeth Misalignment
Bottle fed infants are more susceptible to problems related to proper teeth alignment. Bottle fed infants reveal teeth misalignment, unlike infants who were breastfed.
- Abnormalities of the Jaw
Jaw abnormalities can be distinguished in terms of cross bite, over bite, open bite, and deep bite. Breastfed children are less susceptible to any jaw abnormalities, specifically over bite which was noted to be highly prevalent in bottle fed infants.
- Tooth Decay
Several studies and researches justify that most breastfed children are less prone to tooth decay as compared to bottle fed children.
- Loss of Fluoride
Fluoride is extremely beneficial for teeth. The results of various studies reveal that children, who were breastfed as babies, are less likely to encounter loss of fluoride when compared to children who were bottle fed. Fluoride loss is said to be the result of excessive exposure of the teeth to artificial sweeteners and sugar that instigate the tooth decay process.
Breastfeeding is beneficial for a baby’s oral health in regards to not just teeth but also for contributing to proper jaw, musculature, tongue, and facial structure development.
