Episode 82 of the Airway First podcast is now out! You can catch this and all other episodes on Apple, SoundCloud, Podbean, RSS, Spotify, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. And don't forget to check us out on YouTube!
My guest today is Mallory Roberts--- a Speech Pathologist trained in craniosacral therapy, myo-functional therapy, and infant massage. She is particularly interested in infant reflux, infant oral development, and bottle feeding.
Through her professional work and due to the lack of support during her own babies’ feeding journeys, she created The Feeding Mom. Here, she empowers parents through their feeding journeys locally and worldwide. Her philosophy is that every parent deserves to love feeding their baby.
You can learn more about Mallory at thefeedingmom.com.
Show Notes:
Mallory Roberts
Infant into Toddlerhood Oral Play Guide, from The Feeding Mom
Craniosacral and Movement Techniques for Parents, from The Feeding Mom
Feeding Support Guide, from The Feeding Mom
FEEDING ISSUES: THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
Breastfeeding is often celebrated as the gold standard for infant nutrition, providing babies with essential nutrients, immune support, and a strong foundation for healthy growth. However, one of its lesser-discussed benefits is its role in supporting a child’s oral health.
From promoting proper oral development to reducing the risk of dental issues, breastfeeding offers several advantages that can impact a child’s smile for life:
1. Supports Natural Jaw Development
Breastfeeding encourages the development of a healthy oral structure. The act of nursing requires babies to use their jaw muscles to stimulate proper growth and alignment of the jaw and palate. This can reduce the likelihood of misaligned teeth or bite issues later in life. Adequate jaw alignment also creates space for teeth to grow in a more natural and symmetrical pattern.
2. Reduces the Risk of Malocclusion
Malocclusion, or misalignment of the teeth, can result from improper oral development during infancy. Studies suggest that breastfed babies for at least six months are less likely to develop certain malocclusion than bottle-fed infants. This benefit is linked to the mechanics of breastfeeding, which differ significantly from sucking on a bottle.
3. Decreases the Risk of Early Childhood Cavities
Breastfeeding may help lower the risk of early childhood cavities, also known as baby bottle tooth decay. Unlike formula or juice, breast milk alone does not have the same cavity-causing potential, particularly when proper oral hygiene practices are followed. Additionally, breastfeeding does not expose teeth to prolonged sugar contact, which can occur when infants sleep with a bottle in their mouths.
4. Promotes a Healthy Oral Microbiome
Breast milk contains antibodies and beneficial bacteria contributing to a balanced oral microbiome. A healthy oral environment prevents infections and conditions like thrush or gum inflammation. The natural antibodies in breast milk also help protect against harmful bacteria that can lead to dental problems.
5. Facilitates Proper Tongue Function
The motion required for breastfeeding helps babies develop strong tongue and facial muscles. This, in turn, supports proper tongue posture and movement, which are crucial for speech development and reducing the likelihood of tongue-related issues, such as tongue-tie.
Tips for Parents:
While breastfeeding offers many benefits, oral hygiene remains essential as teeth begin to erupt. Here are a few tips for parents to keep their baby’s oral health on track:
Clean your baby’s gums: Use a soft, damp cloth to gently wipe them after feeding.
Introduce brushing early: Begin brushing with a soft toothbrush and water once the first tooth appears.
Avoid prolonged night feedings: If breastfeeding at night, be mindful of prolonged exposure to milk pooling in the mouth.
Schedule a dental visit: The American Dental Association recommends the first dental visit by the child’s first birthday.
Breastfeeding is more than just a source of nourishment—it lays the foundation for a lifetime of good health, including oral well-being. By understanding and embracing these benefits, parents can give their children the best possible start for a healthy smile.
FEEDING ISSUES: BOTTLES AND PACIFIERS ARE NOT DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES
While not an accurate milestone marker or something required for all babies, bottles and pacifiers can be helpful in a baby’s early life, offering comfort and convenience. However, their prolonged or improper use can impact oral development in ways that may lead to dental and orthodontic issues down the road. Understanding these potential impacts can help parents make informed choices and foster healthy oral growth for their little ones.
How Bottles and Pacifiers Can Affect Oral Development:
Impact on Jaw and Palate Development
The way a baby sucks on a bottle or pacifier differs from breastfeeding, potentially leading to changes in the development of the jaw and palate. Bottles and pacifiers don’t require the same active jaw and tongue movement as breastfeeding, which can sometimes contribute to a higher risk of malocclusion (misaligned teeth) or a narrow palate.
Changes in Tooth Alignment
Prolonged or excessive use of pacifiers and bottles can alter how teeth come in, leading to issues like an open bite (where front teeth don’t meet adequately) or a crossbite. These misalignments may require orthodontic intervention later in life.
Risk of Tongue Thrust and Speech Issues
Frequent bottle or pacifier use can encourage a tongue thrusting habit, where the tongue pushes against or between the teeth during swallowing or speaking. This may affect speech development and contribute to orthodontic problems.
Dental Decay from Bottle Feeding
When babies are fed with bottles containing sugary liquids (like formula, juice, or even milk) and allowed to sleep with them, prolonged exposure to sugars can lead to early childhood cavities, often called baby bottle tooth decay.
Prolonged Dependence
Long-term use of pacifiers or bottles—beyond infancy—can make it harder for children to transition to drinking from a cup or wean off oral habits, extending their impact on oral development.
Choosing Bottles That Support Healthy Oral Development
While some effects of bottles on oral health are linked to how and when they are used, choosing bottles designed with oral development in mind can help minimize risks. Here are features to look for and a few recommended brands:
Features of Oral-Health-Friendly Bottles:
Orthodontic Nipple Design: Mimics the shape of the breast to promote natural sucking patterns and jaw movement.
Slow Flow Nipples: Prevents overfeeding and allows the baby to work harder, encouraging natural oral muscle development.
Wide Base Nipples: Supports a breastfeeding-like latch to minimize nipple confusion and promote proper oral development.
Safe Bottles for Oral Development:
Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottle
Features a wide breast-shaped nipple that mimics breastfeeding, promoting a natural latch and reducing the risk of malocclusion.
Known for their venting system, which reduces colic and helps regulate flow, these bottles also support healthy oral and feeding habits.
Designed with soft, squeezable silicone and a broad nipple base to mimic breastfeeding, they encourage active sucking and proper oral development.
MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic Bottle
Includes a flat, orthodontic nipple that supports jaw development and promotes proper tongue placement.
Designed with multiple nipple holes to mimic the flow of breastfeeding, this bottle encourages natural oral development.
Tips for Healthy Bottle and Pacifier Use:
Transition to a cup around 12–18 months to prevent prolonged bottle exposure.
Limit pacifier use after 12 months, as recommended by pediatric dentists.
Never let a baby sleep with a bottle to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Regularly clean bottles, nipples, and pacifiers to prevent bacterial buildup.
Schedule your child’s first dental visit by their first birthday to monitor oral development.
Parents can help ensure their child’s oral development stays on the right track by choosing the right products and fostering good habits. Bottles and pacifiers can coexist with healthy growth when used thoughtfully and sparingly.
SPOTLIGHT BOOK RESOURCE FOR PARENTS
If you want to find and treat the real causes of your problems and take your healing to a higher level, then you need to do some work. That means striving to change the conditions you currently face and taking steps to change what brought problems or issues into your life in the first place. In other words, treating both the symptoms and the causes will help you get better results than focusing on one or the other.
Steven M. Hall, M.D., gives you a blueprint to do both in this guide to healing. The tools he shares will help you: recognize when something in your life is not working; identify foundational beliefs that contribute to problems; change beliefs when necessary; and focus on solutions instead of problems.
Hall doesn't tell you how to eat or exercise, and he doesn't preach about visualizing or saying positive affirmations. Instead, he concentrates on getting to the root causes of your issues and mastering seven straightforward tools to live a longer, healthier, and happier life.
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