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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

breastfeeding 2 year old, should I worry about cleaning teeth after?

12 replies

cockles · 04/12/2007 12:26

OK we are pretty crap with the toothbrush and do it once a day after bath, but before last feed. Should I insist on toothbrushing after last breastfeed? I think the evidence is now that breastmilk is not likely to cause teeth decay, anyone know any more?

OP posts:
Brangelina · 04/12/2007 12:28

I think you're supposed to as bmilk contains lactose (sugar), but I must admit I don't. My DD gets teeth brushed, then bfeed, then flouride drops when I remember then sleep.

mylittleponey · 04/12/2007 12:28

Interesting question - I never brushed the teeth after last bf just after the bath.

FrannyandZooey · 04/12/2007 12:41

The problem with breastfeeding is when it is combined with sugary food already on the teeth. So if teeth are clean before bf then you should be fine.

mawbroon · 04/12/2007 12:44

Cockles - We do exactly the same and I am not worried about it.

Brangelina - yes it does contain sugar, but it also contains a whole host of other things with actually help protect the teeth.

Kellymom has a bit about it

belgo · 04/12/2007 12:45

the problem with tooth brushing is that you can never make sure the teeth are 100 % clean, and therefore you can never be 100% certain all the food stuff is cleaned out of the mouth. Especially if you are trying to clean the teeth of a lively uncooperative toddler, which most of them are!

EffiePerine · 04/12/2007 12:46

A relatd point: how do you brush teeth? DS is 14 mo and just chomps on the toothbrish - I'm sure it's not actually doing any cleaning.

terramum · 04/12/2007 12:47

BM does contain sugars like all milks but is also contains other things that help protect teeth. Nature doesn't get it that wrong ....even the action of feeding from a breast is designed to help protect teeth as the nipple is drawn back in the mouth behind the teeth. Never heard of a need to brush teeth after breastfeeding.

Kellymom has a page about dental care & breastfeedin I think...DS is pulling me away from the PC as I type so will try to find it later...

SoupDragon · 04/12/2007 12:47

I do. I switched the bedtime routine round a few months ago so BabyDragon has the last feed, then we clean teeth and then sing songs together before she goes to bed. I did it both for teeth reasons and so she wasn't always being fed to sleep. It was surprisingly successful! However, if she falls asleep during that last feed I don't worry about teeth.

belgo · 04/12/2007 12:51

that sounds sensible soupdragon. I wish I had done that.

Original poster
cockles · 04/12/2007 12:53

It's more the agony of either persuading DS to have last feed in bathroom, or returning to bathroom to brush teeth after last feed that I can't bear - thanks, that is reassuring and I will find something else to worry about!
EffiePerine, I think chomping on toothrbush is very h elpful... we have a deal that he gets to do it himself a bit then we finish off.

OP posts:
belgo · 04/12/2007 13:01

cockles - far simpler to bring the toothbrush and a cup of water into the bedroom...

belgo · 04/12/2007 13:02

I personally would give the teeth a good brush before the milk, then a quick brush afterwards as well.

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