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
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