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.

I breastfed both of mine until they were 3. And I never ever brushed their teeth afterwards. Both have good oral health and neither have had any problems, oldest is now 10 years old.

18months is old to still be feeding in the night. No wonder she has rotten teeth. Night feeding usually stops before they get the majority of their teeth.

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
This is more likely to be the issue.

Plus some children are more predisposed to decay. I’ll see if I can find the source.

Agree to the general. You don’t want her having a fear of the dentist if she is going to need ongoing treatment.

@CountFosco

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.

One of mine was extremely premature and had several months of IV antibiotics. His teeth came through creamy beige coloured rather than white and they chipped very easily. We’ve been told by a dentist and other medical professionals that this is common in ex prems who’ve had a lot of IV antibiotics. His adult teeth seem to be normal though - here’s hoping!

I’d be very concerned if you can find a dentist to do that treatment under local anaesthetic in the UK on a 2 year old.

It’s more likely that you not brushing her teeth properly for 6 months caused this....

And I really wouldn’t push for local anaesthetic

Not brushing her teeth with fluoride toothpaste until 12 months old, not giving her vitamin D with other recommended vitamins, and a poor diet e.g. sugary foods not given with just meals, is more likely to be the cause.

Oh and dental injections for extractions are tramautic themselves so she needs to have it done under GA.

My 2 year old needs two teeth extracted and further fillings

Why would a dentist put fillings in baby teeth? They don't start getting their "adult" teeth til at least 5yo

Breastmilk does not cause tooth decay.

Your child must have a general anaesthetic for dental treatment. A light anaesthetic is given and is very safe indeed.

There is no way a child of that age could have treatment under local, it would not be possible.

It’s bollocks, DS10 breastfed on demand for a loooooong time and doesn’t have a single filling now.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/medicalxpress.com/news/2018-10-kids-prone-dental.amp

This came up with a quick google, there are more articles.

I bf mine, not at night after 12 months.
Brushed the teeth twice a day throughly with fluoride toothpaste, from first tooth.
Regular dentist app from 12 months.

Unfortunately she does have some decay, which is probably down to diet in our case but I distinctly remember the dentist saying some children suffer more then others and mentioned a condition. Might be worth investigating.

Yes I know someone who's child lost all their baby tooth because of this. TO be fair the issue was flagged and she still continued breastfeeding at night so she was definitely partly to blame. My two both fed on demand including at night until 3 and neither had any issues with tooth decay but I did keep an eye out for it.

I think the on demand nighttime feeding does cause decay. One of mine had problems, the one who had extended on demand nighttime feeding. I trust what my dentist said. We were lucky as it didn't need any extractions but he did have a couple of fillings at around 5.

My son had a tiny bit of decay which was attributed to breast milk. Apparently, breast milk is quite sweet. He fed on demand.

Subsequently, he didn't need fillings until he was 18, so be optimistic that there may not be, in her teeth, a propensity to decay.

I think it's bad luck/genes.

None of my DC have any fillings. They were all BF on demand for ages. My oldest was always a shocker for not brushing his teeth & would eat sweets all day long (eg buy a four pack of fruit pastilles and eat the lot) given half the chance. He is 20 - nothing wrong with his teeth at all.

There is no justice in this world, that's all I can say.

The only one of mine who has had problems with their teeth was the one who slept through the night from 3 months. So definitely not night time feeding!

Breast fed my first 10 for 18 months, day and night, no decay, breastfed the 11th for 3 yrs day and night and he has the same decay on his front 4 teeth. They all had the same diet and teeth cleaning routine the only difference is the length of time with the night feeding. My dentist said the same it was the b/f. I weaned him and the decay didnt go any further so i agree just because 1 child was fine doesnt mean they all will be.

I've got 2 children both ebf for an extended time day and night, both perfect teeth. We limit crap, don't allow fruit juices, fruit shoots or other crap and brush religiously from when they got teeth like it or not. Zero issues.

My girl had her teeth checked at 2.5 years and had no cavities she still will have a feed every now and then at 3 but loves to brush her teeth with me in the morning and evening even if sometimes she will only do it herself . I fed on demand with most nights co sleeping ( she now sleeps in her own room ) while she fed most the night. Currently feeding baby two on demand not a sign of a tooth yet although she doesn’t feed as much as my oldest .

I have a friend who did the same and her child has 5 cavities even though she would of been stricter on the brushing ! I think it really depends on the child it more than likely would of happened no matter what you done . I really didn’t think it happened either unless you gave juice in a bottle until my friends.

Don’t be too hard on yourself your doing your best to do what’s right by your baby which is all anyone can do . I hope you get the help needed ASAP with a nice dentist that will help you find the best way forward .

I'd have thought not brushing teeth would have contributed rather than EBF. Also as others have said diet too

I did attempt to brush her teeth when first teeth came in at 6m but not religiously and only did so after 12m

Erm, breastfeeding wasn’t the issue here. And you can’t deny a baby that needs fed in the night because you can’t be arsed getting into a good tooth-cleaning routine morning and night. This one’s on you, pal. It’s not about breastmilk.

Breastfeeding at night really doesn't cause tooth decay. You've had some good sources of information posted on hear already. Dont be put off Breastfeeding again because of this. You do need to brush you childs teeth though. I was very intent on this with both mine, yes it can mean holding a child down not fun to do. But they get used to it, both mine fed through the night no teeth problems and no fluoride toothpaste until the could learn to spit it our either. Most of the teeth cleaning comes from good brushing.

Other things like genetics, antibiotics and weak enamel are factors as well. But not breastfeeding.

What else was in her diet tho? Has she been drinking sugary drinks and snacks? More likely to be the culprit + not brushing than breast milk.

On demand bf to three both dds. No fillings now 10 years on even! I don’t believe this explanation

It's not breastfeeding that caused decay, it's the fact that you didn't brush her teeth for six months!