Malocclusion: allergic rhinitis and nipple, risk factors in young children

Does drinking from a bottle, sucking a pacifier or sneezing frequently due to allergic rhinitis represent risk factors of malocclusion in young children, suggests a Mexican study published in the journal "Archives of Disease in Childhood ".

Dental malocclusion defines the existing abnormal relationship between the upper teeth and lower teeth of the jaw. Previous studies have shown the link between the use of a pacifier or a bottle and the risk of misalignment of teeth in children. However, the link between allergic rhinitis and dental malocclusion remains controversial.

Francisco Vazquez-Nava, the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas (Mexico City) and colleagues conducted a study to determine the link between allergic rhinitis, bottle feeding, use of a pacifier and presence of malocclusion in 1160 children aged 4 to 5 years and followed since the age of 4 months.

The researchers detected a malocclusion in a total of 640 children. Children with allergic rhinitis presented a risk of dental malocclusion nearly three times higher than other children. Those who both suffered from allergic rhinitis and used a pacifier also presented a risk of dental malocclusion tripled compared to other children.

In addition, bottle-feeding alone or in the presence of allergic rhinitis was associated respectively to a doubling and quadrupling of the risk of dental malocclusion.

The researchers believe that the misalignment of teeth in children with allergic rhinitis result of a tendency to breathe through the mouth and move the tongue along the palate to prevent sneezing.

Allergic rhinitis alone or associated with a suction action (pacifier or bottle) is associated with malocclusion in children less than 5 years, the authors conclude. This statement aims to encourage diagnosis and treatment of allergies in children early, they add.