Breastfeeding and maternal dental health

[TheAvocado]

Can I have some informed views on whether there is evidence that bf or extended bf has an effect on a mother's teeth? I have had three kids and the dentist says that they've sucked the minerals out of me. Not sure if this is just from pregnancy, but I have bf each until age 2. It's not going to stop me bf, but I'm interested in if this is fact or twaddle.

I assumed that was true and it was the reason why women who are pregnant or have given birth in the last year get free dental treatment.

It's twaddle. It's much more likely to be the change in your diet and less available time/energy to care for yourself ie oral hygiene that have caused any problems.

During pregnancy your calcium levels fall because they are used by the growing baby. During breastfeeding they continue to fall because they're used for the milk.

However, your body is bloody clever and once you are no longer lactating your body will improve it's efficiency at absorbing calcium and your levels will rise to higher than they were pre-PG. Which is why BFing lowers your risk of osteosporosis, the better calicum absorption makes for higher bone density.

How long have you not been BFing for?

The calcium in your bones is constanty remodelled and mobiised. The calcium in your teeth is fixed when the teeth are formed and not mobilised again.

I thought your osteoporosis risk was actually lowered by bfing, which would presumably mean it should make your teeth stronger, not weaker. Not sure how it works though!

Twaddle - what a ridiculous thing for the dentist to say. Ask him for references.

The reason for free dental treatment is nothing to do with bf. Historically, pregnancy has an effect on dental health in malnourished mothers - the free dental treatment for up to a year was to cope with that.

i am a embarrassed to be associated with this dentist

twaddle rightly said. no studies i have read back this up

Absolute shite. Your body can't take calcium from your teeth. I would very much like to meet your dentist to have a chat!!

I don't know about research into this, but I know when I feed DD it feels like something is being leached out of my teeth and I get a 'nails down the blackboard' kind of feeling. I'm sure it's not doing them any good and hope they return to normal when I stop BF.

janice, what you definitely are not feeling is anything being leached out of your teeth.

What you might be feeling is a fairly well-documented hormonal reaction to let-down, which has various manifestations - a sinking feeling (like depression), nausea, anxiety....and I suppose feeling the way you do could be a similar one (you know, the way people say they feel their 'teeth are set on edge').

Google D-MER and see if any of it applies.

I thought it was more about gum health than minerals in your teeth. I did have more bleeding during pregnancy but they have settled down following the birth and my dentist has started nagging me about some major work that i need....

Thanks for that interesting link tiktok, I don't think I have D-MER though as my mood isn't affected, just my teeth! Particularly in late afternoon or evening feeds I can feel my teeth becoming more 'dessicated' (it's a strange tingly feeling), and the effect can last for a few hours, making it uncomfortable to read my son's bedtime story as I can feel my breath rushing over my oversensitive teeth.

My dentist also says I have areas of new decay akin to what she would expect to find in a teenager's mouth. And my whole jaw clamps up when I eat sugary foods.

Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier to get the lot removed and wear dentures!

They definately weren't like this before I had DD!