Importância do aleitamento materno no desenvolvimento orofacial

Importance of breastfeeding in orofacial development

Abstract

Introduction: Lack of breastfeeding is a factor associated with the abnormal development of the stomatognathic system, contributing to the development of malocclusions and the prior establishment of harmful oral habits, such as mouth breathing, finger sucking, use of bottles, bruxism and onychophagia. Objective: The objective of this work is to present a review of the literature on the importance of breastfeeding in the stomatognathic system. Methodology: For this literature review, original scientific and review articles were searched in the Pubmed, Scielo and Google Scholar databases in English and Portuguese. Conclusion: The absence of breastfeeding can negatively affect the dental arches, skeleton and face, interfering with the child's quality of life and making it impossible to perform their normal functions. From a dental point of view, breastfeeding can be considered a preventive measure for adequate orofacial development, which is why we highlight the importance of a health professional providing encouragement and instructions during prenatal care and after the birth of the baby.