Correlation between feeding methods, non-nutritive sucking and orofacial behaviors.

BACKGROUND The development of oral motor control depends partially on motor and sensory experiences. AIM To analyze the relationship between the duration of breastfeeding, artificial feeding and sucking habits, and of these parameters with the orofacial motor performance. METHOD Participants of this study were one hundred and seventy-six children aged 6 to 12 years. All subjects were submitted to an orofacial myofunctional clinical examination, using a protocol with scores, and parents/care takers were interviewed in respect to the feeding and sucking habits of their children. Correlations were calculated using the Spearman Test. RESULTS In the studied sample, the mean duration of breastfeeding was of 10.30 months (ranging from zero to 60 months), of artificial feeding was of 44.12 months (zero to 122 months) and of sucking habits was of 39.32 months (0 to 144 months). There was a negative correlation of breastfeeding duration with artificial feeding duration and sucking habits duration (p < 0001). The duration of the artificial feeding was positively correlated to the duration of sucking habits (p < 0001). The duration of breastfeeding was positively correlated with the mobility of the tongue and jaw (p = 0.05). There was a negative correlation of the duration of artificial feeding and the duration of sucking habits with the performance in mastication and swallowing, respectively, as well as with the duration of both types of sucking with the performance in the diadochokinesia test (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION The duration of natural breastfeeding presented a positive effect over the mobility of the orofacial structures. Deleterious effects of the prolonged duration of artificial feeding and sucking habits in the oral motor control were confirmed.