Feeding practices and Jaw Development: A Comprehensive Literature Review of Their Interconnected Dynamics

Author(s): Maria-Despina Karadimitriou, Nikoleta Kagioglou, Angeliki Sofia Trimeridou, Vasiliki Boka

Objective: Nutritive sucking plays a crucial role in infant growth and craniofacial development. This review examines the impact of breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and non-nutritive sucking on jaw development and the risk of malocclusion, with a focus on early feeding practices, weaning and food consistency.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across several databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus and Web of Knowledge. Studies involving human subjects published in English were selected. The review included observational studies, cross-sectional studies and clinical trials. Keywords used in the search included "nutritive sucking," "jaw development" and "malocclusion."
Results: The findings showed that breastfeeding promotes optimal jaw development and reduces malocclusion risks by engaging oral muscles. Bottle-feeding, including a more passive sucking action, does not provide the same benefits and is associated with misalignments like crossbite and open bite. Non-nutritive sucking habits, such as pacifier use and thumbsucking, further contribute to malocclusion. The consistency of foods during weaning also plays a role, with harder foods encouraging jaw muscle development, while soft foods may hinder proper growth.
Conclusions: Breastfeeding supports healthy craniofacial development and lowers the risk of malocclusions. Bottle-feeding and non-nutritive sucking behaviours are linked to jaw misalignments. Early feeding practices, weaning and food texture are critical factors in jaw health and should be considered in craniofacial development strategies.