Review Regarding the Impact of Breastfeeding on Early Childhood Caries

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) compromise the nutrition, growth, and quality of life in young children, and their relationship with breastfeeding practices remains disputed. AIM: To determine if prolonged breastfeeding increases the risk of dental caries in children aged under 71 months. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of PubMed, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, and Evidence-Based Dentistry, was conducted through August 2025, including observational studies, randomized trials, narrative reviews, and meta-analyses on breastfeeding and ECC. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies involving 28,000 children were included. Exclusive breastfeeding for under six months halves ECC probability (OR 0.53-0.58), whereas breastfeeding beyond 12 months and nocturnal feeds increase probability by 60-86% (OR 2.35-7.14). Parental factors-high plaque levels, feeding-to-sleep, and skipped post-feed cleaning-strongly predict ECC (OR 8.51-75.6). Interventions combining feeding counseling with home visits or visual aids reduce ECC incidence by 22-32% (RR 0.68-0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive breastfeeding through six months is protective against ECC, but prolonged or nocturnal feeding heightens risk. Integrating structured oral health education into breastfeeding promotion is recommended.