[Early weaning: implications to oral motor development]

Abstract

Objective: This article aims at reviewing the relationship between early weaning and its consequences to oral motor development, focusing on the consequences to occlusion, breathing, and children's oral motor aspects.

Sources: A literature review based on Medline database from the early 60s up to 2001 was performed taking into consideration the following topics: pediatrics, dentistry and speech language pathology.

Summary of the findings: Based on this review of literature, we could verify that early weaning may lead to a proper oral motor development rupture, which may cause negative consequences to swallowing, breathing and speaking activities as well as malocclusion, oral breathing and oral motor disorders.

Conclusions: In addition to several benefits of breastfeeding, it contributes to a proper oral motor development and also avoids speech-language disorders, regarding oral motor system.