Relationship among breastfeeding, oral motor development and oral habits - literature review

Abstract

The importance of breastfeeding has been emphasized mainly concerning the development and the nutritional aspects of the child. However, the objective of this study was to demonstrate that natural breastfeeding is something more than nutrition only. Breast-feeding is the decisive and primordial factor for correct maturation and craniofacial growth in bone, muscular and functional level, keeping these structures able to perform the development of the orofacial musculature, which will direct and stimulate the development of physiological functions, guaranteeing not only the survival, but a better quality of life as well. For this reason, it is necessary to emphasize breastfeeding as a form of prevention of future problems for children, once it provides preparation and the improvement of neuromuscular condition of oral structures for more complex functions.