The Importance of Breastfeeding

The Importance of Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding during the first 12 months of a baby's life is extremely important for their growth and development. In this context, breastfeeding is the most natural and preferred way of feeding an infant, both from a physiological and psychological point of view.

In addition to providing all the necessary nutrients for the baby, breast milk plays a crucial role in the development of the stomatognathic system. This natural method promotes the development of proper maxillomandibular and dental alignment, as well as normal chewing in the future.

The Importance of Breastfeeding for the Facial Development of Babies

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby's health and the problems that can arise due to a lack of breastfeeding. We will also talk about the impact of breastfeeding on the development of the stomatognathic system and other additional benefits of this practice.

From the same perspective, let's explore scientific evidence that proves the importance of breastfeeding for the healthy growth of the baby. This includes jaw development, prevention of harmful oral habits, and strengthening of the immune system.

The Importance of Breastfeeding

Boosting Immunity and Strengthening Emotional Bonds

Breast milk is considered the best food for newborns from a nutritional standpoint, as it strengthens the baby's immunity against infectious and allergic diseases. Furthermore, it plays an important role in reducing infant mortality. In this sense, breastfeeding also promotes an intimate emotional bond between mother and child. These exchanges of love strengthen the child's psycho-affective development and help the baby adapt to the new world.

Craniofacial Development and Normal Functional Unit

During breastfeeding, the child recruits the right muscles for proper craniofacial development. This process involves the interaction of sucking, swallowing, and breathing functions, aiding in the development of facial muscles. Furthermore, it contributes to immune defense, maintaining healthy skin color, regular weight gain, body temperature regulation, and improved digestion.

Similarly, breastfeeding also contributes to the formation of a normal functional unit, which involves an adequate neuromuscular balance of the tissues that make up the masticatory apparatus.

What are the consequences of not breastfeeding?

Unfavorable Development of the Stomatognathic System

The absence of adequate stimulation of oral functions and sucking can result in deviations or alterations in the development of the stomatognathic system. This includes malocclusions, parafunctional patterns, and the adoption of mouth breathing habits. Such issues have the potential to manifest from the earliest moments of life and can have adverse impacts on the child's growth. Thumb sucking illustrates an example of a harmful oral habit that can arise in children who are not breastfed, as they may seek alternatives to strengthen their oral muscles.

Stomatognathic Development and Prevention of Harmful Oral Habits

Breastfeeding plays a fundamental role in the development and growth of the stomatognathic system. During breastfeeding, the child performs mandibular movements that stimulate important muscles such as the temporalis, masseter, pterygoid, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and digastric muscles.

These movements aid in muscle development and tone, in the physiologically favorable growth of the mandibular rami, and in the shaping of the curvature of the mandibular angle. Furthermore, breastfeeding helps prevent harmful oral habits, such as sucking on a pacifier or thumb, which can compromise the proper development of the stomatognathic system.

Additional Benefits of Breastfeeding

Contribution to proper breathing and growth of the temporomandibular joints.

Natural breastfeeding plays a crucial role in establishing proper breathing for the child, maintaining a healthy balance between the rigid and flexible structures of the stomatognathic system.

Similarly, breastfeeding contributes positively to the development of the organs involved in speech and word articulation, while also decreasing the incidence of poor oral habits and speech-language pathology-related problems.

The proper development of the temporomandibular joint is closely linked to breastfeeding, since sucking at the breast stimulates the muscles used in chewing and promotes balanced facial growth. Similarly, the natural act of breastfeeding represents the first and crucial stimulus for proper facial growth.

The Importance of Breastfeeding

The Importance of Oral Hygiene During Breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, it's important to maintain good oral hygiene to prevent problems like tooth decay. Although baby teeth are temporary, their health is essential for the development of permanent teeth.

In this regard, a good practice is to clean the baby's gums with a damp gauze or cloth after each feeding. This removes excess milk from the baby's mouth and prevents the accumulation of bacteria that can lead to tooth decay. When the first teeth begin to appear, it is recommended to use a soft toothbrush suitable for the baby's age to perform oral hygiene.

In addition to oral hygiene, it is important to avoid exposing the baby to sugary liquids, such as juices and sodas, during breastfeeding. The sugar present in these liquids can lead to the early development of cavities.

The Importance of Breastfeeding

Conclusion

Breastfeeding is essential for the healthy development of the baby. In addition to providing all the necessary nutrients, breast milk strengthens the immune system, promotes the proper development of the stomatognathic system, and establishes an emotional bond between mother and child. Lack of breastfeeding can lead to developmental problems such as malocclusions and harmful oral habits. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage and support mothers to breastfeed their babies, providing them with the unique benefits that breast milk offers.

Finally, proper oral hygiene during breastfeeding is also essential to prevent problems such as tooth decay.

Furthermore, by following these guidelines and taking additional precautions, it is possible to ensure healthy development of the baby's jaw and face, providing them with a life filled with a beautiful and healthy smile.

Also read our article that talks about... development of dentition and the period of mixed dentition.

Author: Nivaldo Pinho Gonçalves, Periodontist, CROSC 9696.

Reference: https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/portal/resource/pt/lil-302421