Association between breastfeeding and periodontitis in Korean women using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES): a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: The effect of breastfeeding on periodontal disease in women remains unclear. This cross-sectional study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to explore the association between breastfeeding and periodontitis in Korean women using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data was analyzed from the KNHANES 2016–2018. The study population included 5,587 parous women aged ≥ 30 years. The outcome variable was the presence or absence of periodontitis. The explanatory variable, period of breastfeeding, was defined as “none”, “1–11 months”, and “more than 12 months”. Confounder variables (socio-educational, personal healthcare practice, and systemic medical characteristics) were adjusted for in the logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Approximately 60% of the participants breastfed for ≥ 12 months. In all statistical models, the prevalence of periodontitis was approximately 60% greater in women that did not breastfeed compared to women that had breastfed for 12 months or longer. When adjusted for age, statistical significance was only present in the 50–59 years age group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.678; 95% confidence interval [CIs], 1.046–2.691). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that women that breastfed for a relatively long duration had a lower risk of periodontitis. Therefore, breastfeeding may be beneficial for women’s periodontal health. These results are expected to be helpful in oral health education for pregnant women.