Breastfeeding and Maloclussions in Patients Aged 3 to 6 Years Attending the San Francisco de Tacna Health Center, 2020

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between the type and duration of breastfeeding, non-nutritive sucking habits, and the presence of malocclusion in children aged 3 to 6 years treated at the San Francisco Health Center in Tacna, Peru, during 2019. Materials and Methods: An observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, and correlational study was conducted on 98 children with complete primary dentition. Information on the type and duration of breastfeeding, as well as non-nutritive sucking habits, was collected through a questionnaire administered to parents. The presence of malocclusion was assessed by an orthodontic specialist through an intraoral clinical examination. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and odds ratio (OR) calculations, considering a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Malocclusion was identified in 44.9% of the children. No significant association was found between exclusive breastfeeding or breastfeeding duration and malocclusion (p > 0.05). In contrast, bottle feeding was significantly associated with vertical malocclusion (OR = 1.08; p = 0.017), sagittal malocclusion (OR = 1.10; p = 0.008), and midline deviation (OR = 1.13; p = 0.003). Mixed feeding was significantly associated only with sagittal malocclusion (OR = 0.56; p = 0.008), whereas non-nutritive sucking habits were significantly associated with midline deviation (OR = 0.23; p = 0.005). Conclusions: Exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding duration were not associated with the presence of malocclusion. In contrast, bottle feeding and, to a lesser extent, mixed feeding was associated with specific occlusal alterations, supporting the multifactorial nature of malocclusion.