Breastfeeding for 2 years or longer leads to cavities, Study

Children breastfed for two years or longer were more likely to have dental cavities, according to research in the just-published journal, Pediatrics.

Researchers followed more than 1,000 kids in Brazil, focusing on breastfeeding habits and sugar consumption. At age 5, the children were examined by dentists who checked for tooth decay, missing teeth and minor and severe cavities.

Kids who were breastfed for two years or longer had a 2.4 times higher risk of having severe cavities, compared to kids who were breastfed for less than a year.

The reason? “Children who are exposed to breast-feeding beyond 24 months are usually those breastfed on demand and at night,” said lead author Dr. Karen Peres, an associate professor at the University of Adelaide in Australia. She added that this habit makes it “very difficult to clean teeth in this specific period.”

Earlier studies have shown that breastfeeding lowers risks of asthma and childhood obesity and helps develop a good dental bite. But the debate about how long is too long to breastfeed is an ongoing one.

“Ultimately, what this study shows me is that breastfeeding up to 24 months is OK,” Dr. Ruchi Sahota, a dentist and spokeswoman for the American Dental Association, told CNN. “And then if you choose to breastfeed after 24 months, be sure that you’re also employing preventative methods to avoid cavities.”

RESEARCH