Introduction:

feeding in early childhood is important because it is directly related to general health. Exclusive breast milk feeding up to six months of life is beneficial for strengthening the immune system of children, but there are situations in which children should be fed with formula milk depending on the needs or medical indications.

Objective:

to determine the variability of salivary pH in children from six to 18 months of age with breast milk - formula milk intake and its incidence in the presence of dental caries, in the "Senderos de luz" children's center, Pujilí canton, province of Cotopaxi.

Methods:

the sample was based on two groups; one group fed with breast milk and the other fed with formula milk. The salivary pH will be evaluated at fourspecific times: before the ingestion of breast milk or formula milk, five, 10, and 20 minutes after having consumed the milk. An oral hygiene care guide will be prepared for children between six and 18 months of age, establishing the direct benefits for infants to reduce the predisposition to develop dental caries, with the inclusion of oral hygiene measures even before the first dental organ has appeared in the mouth.

Results:

the number of children who consumed formula milk and maintained an acid salivary pH at 20 minutes was greater, while there were very few children who consumed breast milk and continued with an acid salivary pH. The number of children whose salivary pH returned to initial values was greater in those who consumed breast milk compared to those who consumed formula milk, which is good because it decreases the predisposition to develop dental caries.

Conclusions:

salivary pH can be modified by the type of food consumed, specifically in this research we speak of the variability of salivary pH, which when it is drastically modified favors bacterial growth, increasing the predisposition to develop dental caries at an early age.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )