Background: Breastfed babies have a better chance of improved oral and dental health than their counterparts that
were artificially-fed.
Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of postnatal mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding in prevention
of oral and dental diseases.
Materials and Methods: A cross – sectional descriptive survey of 206 mothers attending the postnatal clinic of the
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar on the knowledge and attitude of breastfeeding in prevention of
oral diseases in infants.
Results: Initiation of breastfeeding was early within 3 days of childbirth in 90.3% of mothers. The lack of
awareness or knowledge of specific childhood dental/ oral disorders prevented by breastfeeding by majority (89.3%)
of the respondents was statistically significant. Actual willingness to breastfeed baby for longer periods after
instruction on specific oral health benefits of breastfeeding was elicited in 180 (87.4%) mothers.
Conclusion: There is a need to improve the knowledge of specific benefits of breastfeeding in prevention of dental
diseases. This calls for education of the health professionals beside the dental practitioners who handle the mothers
for themselves to be aware.