FIRST 1000 DAYS OF BABY LIFE AND ORAL HEALTH: A TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
The span of the first 1000 days range is from conception to the end of the second year of life, and is the sum of the usual 270 days of gestation, 365 days of the first year and the 365 days of the second year of life. At this stage, environmental factors such as habits and lifestyles are capable of activating or deactivating genes and, in this way, increase or reduce the risk for oral and general diseases throughout the life cycle.
From conception until at least two years of life, we have a “window of opportunity” period in which healthy practices can be promoted that will positively influence the future oral and general health profile, as well as modify and correct inappropriate trajectories with greater possibilities of clinical success. Transdisciplinarity based on health promotion is the way to achieve this goal.
Thus, the lecture intends to present a practical and direct overview of risk factors that generate epigenetic influences at the oral and general level in the first 1,000 days of the baby, emphasizing prevention during the most relevant phases within this period, such as: prenatal care dentistry, breastfeeding, artificial teats and complementary feeding. Emphasis will be given to the impact of ankyloglossia on some of these periods.