Background

The association between breast milk feeding and dental caries risk in children remains controversial. Moreover, it is unclear whether risk factors for caries differ between breast milk-fed and formula milk-fed infants.

Aim

To investigate dental caries in 13- to 18-month-old infants receiving breast milk or formula milk feeding and associated risk factors.

Design

One hundred and sixty-six 13- to 18-month-old infants were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Information on feeding practices, demographics, and potential risk factors was collected using a caregiver questionnaire. Carious lesions were identified by visual and tactile examination. The Chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis.

Results

The prevalence of caries in breast milk- and formula milk-fed infants was 31.8% and 36.0%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (p = .579). Among all children, having dental plaque deposition on more than one third of the crown (adjusted OR (aOR): 15.11%; 95% CI: 6.11–37.35) and sleeping while milk feeding (aOR: 2.20%; 95%CI: 1.01–4.77) were associated with dental caries. In subgroup analysis, however, sleeping while milk feeding increased caries risk in the formula milk-fed group only (aOR: 2.95%; 95%CI: 1.07–8.12).

Conclusions

The type of milk feeding was not associated with dental caries, whereas dental plaque and sleeping while milk feeding increased the odds of having dental caries in this population.