Sugar and early breastfeeding interruption are risk factors for dental caries

The study published in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology tracked children born between 2015-2016 in Cruzeiro do Su, Brazil.

Marly Augusto Cardoso, principal investigator and professor at the University of São Paulo’s School of Public Health, said to EurekaAlert!, “Some previous studies pointed to an association between extended breastfeeding [for 12 months or more] and the occurrence of dental caries, but without properly accounting for the role of early added sugar consumption by these children. Our research found the increased risk of caries in the context of extended breastfeeding to correlate with sugar consumption.”

Jenny Abanto, the first author of the article and professor at São Leopoldo Mandic Dental School in São Paulo, said, “The results corroborate prior research findings on the role of free sugar in the development of dental caries. Breast milk lactose alone doesn’t cause the problem. Practically all the children surveyed by our study were exposed to free sugar at an early age.”