The effect of breast milk on the oral microbiome: short-term and long-termeffects

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESThe human oral microbiome plays an essential role in human health. Oral bacteria duringinfancy can affect bacterial colonization in the future. Environmental and nutritional factors,such as breast-feeding have a significant impact on the development of the infant's oralmicrobiome. Breast milk is not sterile, but it contains a source of specific microbiota for thebaby. Streptococcus spp. and lactobacillus spp. are common bacterial species found in breastmilk. There are few studies on whether the effect of breastfeeding on the infant's oralmicrobiota is long-term or short-term. The goal of the present review is to investigate theeffect of breastfeeding on oral microbiota in infants and adults.MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this study, the effect of breast milk on human oral microbiota has been investigated, byreviewing the other literature.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe pattern of oral microbiota is different between breast-fed and formula-fed infants.Streptococcus mutans is more common in formula-fed infants. Some microbial species willremain even after the cessation of breast-feeding, showing the long-term effect ofbreastfeeding on the oral microbiota. It is known that the mother's oral health is effective onthe transfer of bacteria from mother to baby. Although the mother's microbiome is one of themain microbial sources at the beginning of the baby's life, the transmission of themicrobiome between the mother and the baby is not well studied yet.CONCLUSIONBacteria in breast milk, especially probiotics, play an essential role in the oral health ofinfants; however, more studies are needed to understand its long-term effects.

کلیدواژه ها:

Breast milk ، Oral microbiota ، Long-term effects