Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

3 questions · 3 findings · 1 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 1 · 33.3%Very low 0 · 0%Low 2 · 66.7%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Breastfeeding for 12-24 months vs Not breastfed at the same age

Early childhood caries (ECC) - incidence/risk · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)

Breastfeeding for 12-24 months may not increase ECC risk (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Risk of Early Childhood Dental Caries Associated With Prolonged Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2025 All outcomes
12-24 months
RR 1.21 [0.82, 1.78]
5 studies
Low

Breastfeeding for more than 24 months vs Not breastfed at the same age or breastfed for a shorter duration

Early childhood caries (ECC) - incidence/risk · Children with exclusively primary dentition (age ≤71 months)

Breastfeeding beyond 24 months is associated with an increased risk (incidence) of early childhood caries versus not breastfeeding at the same age (RR 2.44, 95% CI 1.97 to 3.02; low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Risk of Early Childhood Dental Caries Associated With Prolonged Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2025 All outcomes
Up to 71 months of age (study follow-up 1-9 years) · Population/community-based birth and childhood cohort studies; multiple countries (mostly Brazil and Japan; also Thailand, Scotland, Uganda, Spain, Australia, Myanmar, USA, Netherlands, Norway) · More than 24 months
RR 2.44 [1.97, 3.02]
2 studies
Low

Intervention not reported

Early childhood caries (ECC) - incidence/risk

The intervention showed no clear difference in early childhood caries (ECC) - incidence/risk; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Risk of Early Childhood Dental Caries Associated With Prolonged Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2025 All outcomes
Sensitivity analysis (Feldens 2010 excluded): breastfeeding >12 months
RR 1.37 [0.89, 2.12]
6 studies
GRADE not reported