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.

Jeez, sometimes I wonder how I have any teeth left at all! I distinctly remembering a time when I didn't brush my teeth at all in the mornings when I was little! My mum only got us to do it at night! She was a nurse as well.

Anyway, I have really good teeth and always get complimented on them at the dentists.

Never heard of such a little child needing so much work! Last time we took DS (also 2yo), they didn't even look in his mouth as he wasn't cooperating. Cannot imagine him sitting for all of that!

Raisins and other “healthy” toddler snacks like yo-yos and those fruity cereal bars get stuck in kids teeth for ages. Way worse than a bit of milk at night. Fed both of mine until around 18 months at night and on demand but never had any problems.

I was warned by my hygienist, every time I went, to stop breastfeeding my child as his teeth would rot. She said the dental surgery had had a spate of the kind of situation you describe and she was really shocked by it.

As it happened I ignored her. Continued to feed to demand day and night with both children and their teeth are perfect. The youngest I fed till he was too, the eldest till he was one.

So I tend to agree there’s more too this. Did your children feed multiple times in the night? Were you brushing their teeth correctly with the right toothpaste in the morning and evening? Were they drinking anything else other than water and milk on the day?

You didn't brush her teeth. It's got nothing to do with the breastfeeding and everything to do with not brushing her teeth.

Oh gawd. That needs to be done under general NOT local.

I work in medicine. A general isn’t going to kill her.

Public health England summary on breastfeeding and dental health:

“breastfeeding up to 12 months of age is associated with a decreased risk of tooth decay“

www.gov.uk/government/publications/breastfeeding-and-dental-health/breastfeeding-and-dental-health

Does she snore and/or have enlarged adenoids by any chance??

Surely it could be any of the other food that a 2 year old eats throughout the day? Does sound a bit odd.

Especially considering teeth from humans a thousand years ago were perfectly intact (unlike today when we have so much sugar) and breastfeeding would've been done a lot more than now!

@vanillandhoney

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

👍

If you don’t brush her teeth properly everyday then of course her teeth will be damaged! What else does she eat? Poor child.

My nearly 3 year old still BF before falling asleep. He was having the odd night feed up to about age 2. He has perfect teeth.

Rubbish. BF both of mine until they were toddlers.
kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/tooth-decay/

Don't worry if you don't manage to brush much at first. The important thing is to get your baby used to brushing their teeth as part of their daily routine. You can help by setting a good example and letting them see you brushing your own teeth.

This is from NHS website re baby teeth^^.

Link here:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/looking-after-your-infants-teeth/

Just before the "your poor child" crew froth themselves into a dizzy frenzy .

I don't think the op saying she brushed her dd's teeth from six months, but "not religiously" tille 12 months is that bad. Sounds like she followed NHS guidance? Or am I missing something else?

It's not the bf op, you said yourself you didn't do much brushing. I'm sorry.

It wasn't the breastfeeding. It was your failure to brush them.

@BabyLlamaZen

Surely it could be any of the other food that a 2 year old eats throughout the day? Does sound a bit odd.

Especially considering teeth from humans a thousand years ago were perfectly intact (unlike today when we have so much sugar) and breastfeeding would've been done a lot more than now!

Yes that’s my feeling. 100 years ago I doubt anyone brushed babies’ teeth.

It happened to my kids too, this was 20 years ago, before there was official advice about Vitamin D supplementation, i think low Vitamin D levels in my breath milk contributed to dodgy enamel. I also fed them raisins as snacks and a lot of fruit.
On the plus side, they had flouride tablets and their teeth brushed.
Mine also had teeth come through very early, DS3 had teeth coming through at his 6 week check so they had teeth right through the night feeding stage and it was those first teeth that were affected most. I'm convinced that breastfeeding was the culprit of the damage to their front teeth, they would not take bottles and often fell asleep on the boob. Would you wake a 6 week old up at 2 in the morning to brush their teeth?
Just like the myth about no such thing as an overfed breastfed baby (DS3 grew to humongous size, took him years to fully slim down) i think it's perfectly possible for breastmilk to cause toith decay, it's very sweet.

I BFed my dc until nearly 2 too, and fed him during the night too. Nothing like this happened. And I did brush his teeth but he hated it so not really properly.

My 2 year old DC was recently in hospital for an issue with her knee. She had a general to drain fluid off it. They put a cannula in it while she was under and she was perfectly happy letting the nurses give her hand ‘a drink’ afterwards (IV antibiotics). Had she had the cannula put in while she was awake she would have played Merry hell anytime anyone tried to touch it.

Having worked at a dentist I can’t imagine one agreeing to a local for such a young child, it should be a referral to a dental hospital and yes a general.

They’re not nice for child or parent, but I’d be wary of the trauma after a local. Well tbh it won’t be trauma, it’ll be a failed procedure and federal after the fact to a dental hospital imo.

Don’t forget if she has to have extractions she’ll have empty sockets (probably not as bad as an adult tooth extraction, but still there) and eating will be painful for a while, why would you want to compound that by having her remember the procedure?

100% my child would have the general.

I distinctly remembering a time when I didn't brush my teeth at all in the mornings when I was little!

I didn't brush my teeth in the mornings until I was about 20...they're fine now though

I would definitely rethink the local and get a GA.
They are very safe now and it would be done in hospital by an anaesthetist used to knocking out children. If she wasn't happy about you trying to brush her teeth just imagine how she'll react to dental work.

If breastfeeding causes tooth decay then we probably would be extinct by now!

It's not true I've heard this more and more recently dentists blaming BF on tooth decay. I don't and won't believe it

If you brush, milk won't cause issues. I have 10mo and have been brushing twice a day since his first tooth. No compromises. Just find a way that works. My one lays in the bath while I brush and make faces.

Why would you not brush your childs teeth. Of course it's your fault who's else would it be. Poor child. Start brushing them ffs.