To be shocked that on demand breastfeeding caused tooth decay

[Ditheringdooley]

My 2 year old needs two teeth extracted and further fillings.

She was bf on demand and fed until 2 and in the night until at least 18m. I did attempt to brush her teeth when first teeth came in at 6m but not religiously and only did so after 12m but it was a horrific battle and she was still having feeds in the night afterwards.

Dentists say that this caused her teeth to rot and she needs extensive work- they suggest under general but I’m pushing for local as could not live with myself if she died under general because I had allowed her teeth to be effed up.

We did seek a referral to NHS over a year ago but never heard anything so will probably have to do this privately. Can’t wait for another potential delayed referral esp with current covid delays.

Any experience to share? I can’t believe this has happened to us. I thought ‘bottle rot’ didn’t happen to BF babies and with my second I will not allow bf at night past 6m.

Dentists like to blame BF at night for decay, when it’s actually bullshit! No evidence supports these theories. Breastmilk doesn’t pool in the mouth like other liquids.

Sounds like balls to me. On demand bf doesnt cause tooth rot. There can be lots of things tho - not brushing teeth is not great. In addition, diet plays a part. Did your daughter eat lots of fruit and crunchy/crispy snacks, or drink anything like squash or fruit juice? My dentist told me those are the big causes of decay. Crispy snacks in particular really stick in the teeth and acidic fruit weakens enamel.

An element can be genetic but also factors in pregnancy can impact- my daughter was premature & iugr and I've been warned her baby teeth may be weak as she will have missed out on minerals being laid down in them.

Explain to me why it was the fault of breastfeeding, and not the fault of you not brushing them properly for 6 months?

Things like ketchup & similar sauces too which I'm amazed people give to toddlers. The combination of acid & sugar in them is lethal for teeth.

I would’ve thought the lack of tooth brushing was more the issue than breastfeeding tbh

Oh BS sorry but really!
3 dc all breast fed
none have fillings all mature adults

I bf ds2 for 3.5 years and ds3 for 3 years and neither has had any problem with their teeth.

This is nothing to do with breastfeeding. Decay is acid staying on the teeth for too long without being removed = not brushing regularly.

It doesn,t.

Actually breastmilk can cause tooth decay. It is just lower risk than bottle fed formula, but there is still risk. The big culprit is on demand night time feeds because the milk coats the teeth and they then sleep with it on their teeth.

Is it bollocks breast feeding. Inadequate brushing, sugary or starchy and acidic food that sticks to teeth causes tooth decay.

Your poor wee girl. Are you sure that tooth extraction under a local is a wise choice for a two year old?

I'm not sure if you might find this helpful op?

kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/tooth-decay/

Breastmilk is still filled with sugar. I'm a massive BF advocate, its got plenty going for it without needing to pretend its harmless for your teeth as well.

I'm sorry but this is utter crap. EBF two children and they have perfect teeth. Religious brushing from day 1 when their teeth came in through tears and screaming and tantrums.

Breastmilk has sugars in. Sugars can cause decay. Did you BF overnight after last toothbrushing once teeth were erupted? That would do it- but not always.
It could be that, and it will have been that if you haven’t fed lots of other sugars- fruit/ raisins/ juice as well as biscuits, sweets, pop. Toothbrushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste helps but that level of decay that young is almost always caused by dietary sugars of whatever type.
Extracting teeth under local in a 2 year old is barbaric and would be impossible anyway. Do you want to cause a lifelong phobia to appease your conscience? You shouldn’t feel guilty, the BF propaganda will be to blame.

The big culprit is on demand night time feeds because the milk coats the teeth and they then sleep with it on their teeth

This sounds plausible.

@MrsDragonLady I agree that it’s much more likely to be the lack of brushing that’s caused the issues, but can you elaborate about breastmilk not pooling like other liquids? Is that because if the mechanism if breastfeeding or the composition of breastmilk? DS couldn’t breastfeed so I expressed and bottle fed, and I assumed doing this longer than a year or so would be similar to extended bottle feeding formula as far as teeth health was concerned.

All milk can cause tooth decay especially if it its being drunk throughout the night. Lots of people will not admit that, but it's true.

And the lack of cleaning certainly won't have helped.

You need to get in touch with your dentist and find out if your daughter has been referred. 2 years old is very young to try and do fillings and extractions on and she maybe best having a General Anaesthetic. If she does need this doing any teeth with decay will be removed to prevent more problems in the future. limit sugar to meal times only and brush her teeth twice a day with adult fluoride toothpaste making sure there is no rinsing afterwards with water.

You didn’t brush your child’s teeth for the first 6 months - I suspect this is more likely to be cause.

An element can be genetic but also factors in pregnancy can impact- my daughter was premature & iugr and I've been warned her baby teeth may be weak as she will have missed out on minerals being laid down in them.

That's interesting. The only one of mine with any decay in baby teeth was the premature one. All EBF for 6 months, all BF all night, all teeth brushed.

But you didn't brush your kid's teeth!!

I breastfed 3 DCs to well over two years- one to 3.5 - and all were fed on demand, through the night etc. We brushed their teeth as far as possible probably from 12 months plus (I'm talking a quick lick of the toothbrush). They all have great teeth now and have never had any cavities. I'm not convinced that breastfeeding is the culprit. However some children seem to be more prone to tooth caries than others.

Becauselthe nipple is further in the mouth when breastfeeding, well beyond the teeth and effective sucking requires a difference pressure that wouldn't allow for pooling, surely?