Importância do aleitamento materno na saúde bucal e geral da criança

Abstract

Breast milk is considered the best food from the nutritional point of view, playing a major role against infant mortality, in addition to providing the child breastfed more satisfaction of their emotional needs through the contact established between mother and child. The aim of this work was to realize a review of the literature regarding the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby and emphasize the contribution of natural breastfeeding for dental health and harmonious development of the face. Based on the literature reviewed, it can be concluded that breastfeeding is considered essential in the first six months of life of the child, both for his physical as emotional development, and prevent the installation of deleterious oral habits and promote growth and normal development of the stomatognathic system, protecting against possible installation of skeletal malocclusions and avoiding damages for chewing, swallowing, breathing and speech. Thus, the importance of breastfeeding in the Family Health Strategy is highlighted as a priority by the multidisciplinary team in the field of health promotion and prevention. Therefore, it is necessary the training of the professionals who are able to guide the mothers, since the prenatal, about the advantages of breastfeeding, the correct technique of feeding, the problems and difficulties during breastfeeding and also about the use of pacifiers, baby bottles and other nonnutritional sucking habits.