Influence of breastfeeding in transversal micrognathism and deforming oral habits

Abstract

The breastfeeding has been the first form of feeding of the humankind. It is unquestionable the repercussion of this act in the boy's integral development, and the stomatognathic apparatus is not unaware to this influence. The aim of this work was assessing the influence of maternal breastfeeding in the transversal growth of the maxilla and the presence of oral deforming habits. We made a transversal descriptive study where the total of the children (156) aged 2-5 years of the Day Care Center Días de la Infancia, health area Playa, in the period February 2007-February 2008. To collect the information we used a custom made survey. Data were processed in tables and graphics. We used the statistic analysis to establish relations of dependence among the studied variables. 56,41 % of the children were breastfed for a period of less than 6 months. The transversal micrognathism was present in an equal percentage. Only 23,08 % of the children did not have deforming oral habits. 72,73 % of the children that were breastfed for more than 6 months had an adequate transversal development of the maxilla, while 30,30 % was not involved in incorrect oral habits.