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Infant feeding

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

Advice needed, please - DS's broken tooth causing nipple injury!

13 replies

RoRoMommy · 15/12/2008 10:02

Hello all,

My DS has had a chipped front tooth, the one next to the left front tooth, for weeks. It's now chipped off in such a way that it's like a little talon, and every time he feeds (and he is a boob monster, let me tell you), it hurts like hell because the sharp little nub of tooth pierces my nipple. We've also had some biting incidents, the last one drew blood because of the sharp chipped tooth.

Normally it's okay because I work during the day so the nipples have time to recover, but we're going on holiday for two weeks = two weeks of unabated, anytime on-demand bf = AGONY!

I've gotten in touch with the dentist who will fix the tooth in January once we're back from holiday to see if maybe she can smooth it out in her offices, though I worry about how painful/traumatic that would be for DS. Barring that am looking for advice to lessen the pain. Have considered, perhaps, putting that wax that swimmers use in their ears on the tooth, just a little ball of it, to dull it, then removing it after a feed (if he'll let me do that), or using nipple shields, but to be honest I don't even know how those work because they were discouraged when bf was getting established at the beginning, the only other time I would have needed them, and that seems like forever ago.

HELP, please? TIA.

OP posts:
RoRoMommy · 15/12/2008 11:30

bump

OP posts:
RoRoMommy · 15/12/2008 12:01

Advice on nipple shields also appreciated...

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mawbroon · 15/12/2008 12:06

How old is he?

Would he co-operate with trying different positions until you find one that doesn't hurt so much? Or unlatching when it is sore and getting him to try again.

Re the biting, stop the feed and put him on the floor any time he bites. He should quickly put 2 + 2 together!!

Lansinoh before a feed would lubricate it a wee bit which might take the edge off it.

kellymom has a general bit about scraping with teeth which you might find helpful

Good luck, it sounds painful

deckthegirlandboywithholly · 15/12/2008 12:06

I had nipple shields, but only in the first week or so, when my nipples felt like they were hanging off.

They certainly worked fine. No trouble. Baby had no trouble latching on, and certainly gave my nipples a rest and let them heal.

How old is your ds?

ChopsTheDuck · 15/12/2008 12:06

you could maybe try dental wax. Not sure it would really stay there that well though with feeding.
Id be tempted to give him lots of apples and crunchy food to help wear down the sharp point too. It would smooth it out, I chipped a tooth a few mnths a go and it took about ten days to smooth off a bit.

Not sure abotu nipple shields as Ive never used them. I'm not convinced that you would get him to use one though, if he hasn't before.

mawbroon · 15/12/2008 12:09

\link{http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/wean-shield.html\and here's a bit about nipple shields}

I have never used them, so can't really give you any top tips. There's also the possibility that your ds might not like them!

mawbroon · 15/12/2008 12:10

try again!!

RoRoMommy · 15/12/2008 12:24

Oh thank you thank you.

DS is 21 months and I appreciate that nipple shield introduction at this stage might be difficult.

Unfortunately different positions won't remedy the issue because no matter what position he is in the tooth still makes contact with my nipple.

On the biting, unfortunately he does this to signal that he's finished, so as he's already decide to end the feed voluntarily, it doesn't do much for me to put him on the floor, IYSWIM. I screamed really loud last night after he really tore into me, and the poor mite cried his little eyes out he was so scared! I felt terrible, but unfortunately it didn't stop him giving me a little nibble before bed. Ergh!

Dental wax is a very interesting idea...any clue where I could pick some up?

Thanks for the article links! This is great.

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mawbroon · 15/12/2008 12:31

OK, 21 months, he will have a real understanding of what you are saying to him.

How about you talk to him before he feeds, something like "before we have milk, I want you to know that it is very sore for mummy when you bite. Are you going to do bite or not bite?" I used to give my ds choices like this for all sorts of things and having him say the "not bite, or no fuss" or whatever seemed to make it stick in his mind. (Not sure what stage your ds is at verbally?) Then periodically ask him if he is finished, trying to pre-empt (how do you spell that???) the end of the feed. Or perhaps when you think he is almost done, do a bit distraction to get him off before he bites.

Do you think that might work?

RoRoMommy · 15/12/2008 12:35

Yes, mawbroon, that might work. I've tried telling him after the fact that when he bites it hurts mummy and he should not bite. Doing it before did not occur to me. Despite my yelps of pain and stern response to his actions, he seems to think it's funny! Obviously it's not, and no one laughs but him, so I wonder what that's all about.

I used to nibble on his toes, fingers, etc. to be playful, stopped that months ago when the biting started because I thought he'd gotten it from me.

Verbally I don't think he could say no bite, but he'd definitely understand and eventually I think he might get it.

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orangehead · 15/12/2008 12:42

It would literally take seconds for dentist to file down and wont hurt him. Although getting him to coop might be a problem. If you think he will stay still long enough I would ring the dentist back and get him seen sooner, tell them it is affecting his feeding

mawbroon · 15/12/2008 12:43

I find that telling ds what is expected of him before we enter any situation a very useful technique to use in all sorts of situatiions.

At that point, I would also outline the consequence of not doing what was expected of him. I don't know what would be appropriate in your case though if ending the feed is neither here nor there for him because the consequence needs to be there and then IYSWIM and he is still quite young for this type of thing I think.

margobambino · 10/01/2009 22:00

Hello, Is anybody from this thread still around?
3 hours ago we had an incident than my 18 months old DS banged his head to the table when a glass bowl on it and fractured one of his front tooth. Sharp end is hurting my nipple too when breastfeeding.
For me at the moment his look also important. He looks a bit funny with a chipped tooth. I really want to see a dentist and trying to arrange a private one now ASAP.
What did you do RoRoMomy, have you seen the dentist yet? Will they fill it with composite or anything?
Any other advise or ideas will be appreciated.
Thank you. Anybody know a private good pediatric dentist for example?
Margo

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