I just wanted to follow up on Magda Sachs' note regarding the history of 
infant feeding.   Another excellent book on the subject is by Valerie Fildes, 
Breast Bottles & Babies - a history of infant feeding.   It is another book out of 
the UK - published by Edinburgh University Press - 1986 - ISBN 0 85224 462 2. 
  Many years ago when I was trying to research when bottles and pacifiers 
were invented, and the formula / bottle companies would not respond to any my 
inquiries, I found Fildes book.   She has drawings of infants from the past 
suckling on goats and asses.   A key finding in the book was that F. Baldini 
invented the feeding bottle around 1770-1800AD.   This invention appears to be the 
precursor to the present day bottle and pacifier.   Files also states that 
rubber teats did not come into general use until around 1850.   A great research 
project for an anthropologist would be to see if this is the period in time 
when the malocclusion we see so commonly today, started.    

Based on my research, and the works of others, prehistoric societies rarely 
had the malocclusions or the tooth decay that we see in modern industrialized 
societies.   The main reason for this is that the only choice mothers had to 
feed their children in those societies was to breastfeed them - either by 
themselves or by other women in the village or by hiring wet-nurses.   

I hypothesize that the malocclusions of a high palate, narrow dental arches 
or pushed back chins, that put individuals at high risk for developing sleep 
disordered breathing (SDB) - snoring - and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is 
mainly due to bottle feeding, pacifier use, infant habits and being tongue-tied.  
 Preemies that are intubated are also at high risk of having these 
malocclusion.   Some infants are born with high palates - either because of pressure 
from the tongue while in utero, forces on the head during delivery, or due to 
genetics.   If it is due to genetics though - why aren't these characteristics 
found in prehistoric skulls - unless all infants born with these genes - died 
from SIDS or other sleep / breathing problems. 

OSA is a very serious medical condition with many side effects, including: 
hypertension, stroke, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, restless 
sleeps, depression, severe anxiety, short-term memory loss, intellectual 
deterioration, temperamental behavior, poor job performance and impotence.

Consequences to children include, hyperactivity, developmental delay, poor 
concentration-poor grades-lower IQ, bed wetting, nightmares, night terrors, 
headaches, restless sleeps, obesity, noisy breathers, chronic runny noses, 
frequent upper airway infections and ADHD.

Research on SDB - OSA is still in its infancy, and not all healthcare 
providers are aware of these conditions or their consequences.

I believe all LCs and other infant healthcare providers need to understand 
the consequences of high palates, narrow dental arches and pushed back 
(retruded) chins so that they can explain the possible consequences to the parents of 
the children with these characteristics.   The key to treating OSA / SDB is to 
PREVENT IT, and the BEST form of prevention is BREASTFEEDING.

If a child does develop these characteristics:- infant habits, going to 
day-care, large tonsils or other airway obstruction can negate the benefits of 
breastfeeding - then that individual should be evaluated by an orthodontist who 
understands OSA - and should be treated by at least the age of 16 if a 
malocclusions exists.  The best choice for individuals with high palates, narrow dental 
arches, and crowded teeth MAY be by expansion.   The mid-palatal suture line 
in the roof of the mouth fuses by about age 18.   Once fused about the only 
option then is to fracture the upper and lower jaws and pull the face forward to 
open the airway.   Breastfeeding or palatal expansion by the age of 16 sounds 
a lot nicer and easier than the previous options.

Another KEY REASON TO BREASTFEED:   the ACT OF BREASTFEEDING helps reduce the 
risk of developing the malocclusions that put individuals at risk for 
developing OSA / SDB.   It is now UP TO YOU to convince moms-to-be, pediatricians and 
OB/GYNs about this benefit! 

Sorry for the length of this note, but I believe understanding the above 
points is the key to help prevent the healthcare system from going bankrupt.

For Better Health!

Brian Palmer, DDS
Dentist, Kansas City, USA



**************************************
 See what's new at http://www.aol.com

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome