PROLONGED DEMAND BREAST-FEEDING AND NURSING CARIES

The aim of this study was to study the characteristics and to explore risk factors within a group of Dutch children breast-fed on demand ove r a prolonged period, whose mothers attended the meetings of La Leche League. Ninety-six children, 55 boys and 41 girls (mean age 28.8 month s, SD 8.8), were examined. Most of the parents belong to a higher soci o-economic working class. The examination included a questionnaire and dietary sheet, combined with the caries status of the child, On avera ge the children were breast-feed for 21.5 months (SD 9.8). The mean ag e at which the parents started brushing the children's teeth was 11.7 months (SD 5.1). Fluoridated toothpaste (250 ppm fluoride) was used by 70% of the children. The children were divided into three groups acco rding to their caries pattern: 1 caries-free; 2 caries, and 3 nursing caries. Dentine caries was found in 14 (14.5%) of the children, of whi ch 9 (9.3%) met the criteria of nursing caries. The mean dmfs of all c hildren examined was 1.2 (SD 4.8). Up to IS months of age the breast w as given significantly more frequently during the night and up to 24 m onths during the day time, to the children of the nursing caries group compared to the children in the other two groups. The children still being breast-fed at the time of investigation more Frequently slept in their parents' bed. The children of the nursing-caries group used flu oridated dentifrices less often. The majority of children of the carie s and nursing-caries groups did not receive fluoride from other source s. The results of the present study demonstrate that prolonged demand breast-feeding does not lead to a higher caries prevalence although co mparison between the groups demonstrates that frequent breast-feeding and low additional fluoride use should be considered as contributing f actors in the process of nursing caries.