So... the dentist said "You'll have to stop that" WRT breastfeeding my 9 m o... and by the time he is 2/3 he will need work under general anaethetic for all his rotten teeth.

[LadyOfWaffle]

This was in an appointment for me this morning.

Her - How old is your baby? (for my notes)
Me - 9m
Her - SO you've stopped breastfeeding (statement, not a question)
Me - No, I am breastfeeding him
Her - You'll have to stop that
Me - Why?
Her - It will rot his teeth
Me - No more than formula...?
Her - It's bad for their teeth, especially night feeding
Me - I still feed at night, and co-sleep
Her - He doesn't need it at night
Me - (nodding) I understand what you're saying, it's a risk I am willing to take...(!!)
Her - You need to stop at a year
Me - I was planning for about 2 years... I guess it's teeth vs. health....
Her - But it's health when he is 2/3 and needs a general anaesthetic for all his rotten teeth
Me - (gives up) Yes, I guess so....

Someone please tell me she is wrong (about stopping - even apples will rot your teeth!) and that breastfeeding is no worse than formula - or cows milk. She really wouldn't let it go!

[Mumsnut]

Surely the nipple goes much further back into the mouth than a bottle teat so there is no pooling of milk around the teeth?? However, I'm no expert so ...

TIKTOK!!!!????

[chevre]

good grief she is a dickhead. my lovely dentist was v. approving of bfing and told me not to worry about night feeding.

dd is 5 and has lovely teeth

[EachPeachPearMum]

Do you brush his teeth after evening feed? (not the middle of night feed, I appreciate that)
btw- apples are very acidic and not good for teeth!

[EachPeachPearMum]

oh and dd fed to 17mo- ebf, and lots of night feeds until 14mo or so- she is 3 with no teeth problems.

[Iklboo]

He doesn't need it at night???

Who the fark does she think she is?

[smallorange]

Rubbish.

I can see problems with tooth decay if a child is toddling about sucking from a bottle of milk all day. But how long does it take your DS to BF? Not long I'd guess. So really milk doesn't come into contact with his teeth for very long.

Both mine were BF for 12 months respectively and neither (2.5 and 5) has ANY tooth decay.

[PuppyMonkey]

I think teeth are very overrated anyway.

Hate it when people come along and say not to eat fruit because they might rot your teeth. Now breastmilk is really bad for you too.

Well, as long as yer teeth are all right, that's all that matters isn't it?

[teabagtea]

I am a dentist. there has recently been a review of evidence that shows that there is no evidence of increased risk of decay with prolonged breastfeeding. I will have a search and find the evidence for you as this sort of lack of knowledge of current evidence really annoys Me!!!!

[FaintlyMacabre]

www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/tooth-decay.html

This should help- maybe forward it to your dentist

[belgo]

My dentist blamed me bfing dd1 until 12 months for decay on dd1's teeth, despite the fact that I'd stopped bfing before dd1 even got the teeth that were showing some decay.

[Rhubarb]

What she is saying, is that once your baby gets teeth (I presume he has or he wouldn't be at the dentist), you are supposed to brush your teeth half an hour after eating anything. Esp at night because that's when the bacteria latches on to any food particles on the teeth.

However, it's only milk. If it were fruit juice she'd have a point because of the acid erosion. But milk goes straight down the throat, prob doesn't even touch his teeth.

She's being an arse and probably had a bad day. I would complain tbh.

[mawbroon]

My ds is 3.8yo, has barely gone a night without a night feed and has the loveliest, shiniest, whitest teeth ever.

I would complain tbh or she will spout this nonsense to someone who doesn't have MN to reassure them, and could put them off. Especially as she was so insistent.

[fizzpops]

My DD certainly needed feeding at night at 9mo - sometimes twice if she was really hungry. It wasn't a habit as she is now 14mo and has dropped night feeds with no encouragement from me.

Too early to tell how her teeth will be but you need to take the lead from your child in terms of appetite.

[tiktok]

Waffle - she needs a polite letter with the relevant refs in, I think

What a cheek making comments on your parenting choices like that.

[LackaDAISYcal]

I'd be livid and would have told her to MHOB.....politely of course

[gloomysue]

My dd had to have some of her teeth taken out when she was just 2, I was told that her teeth had started to decay because of breastfeeding at night. Feel terrible about it as I always thought i was doing the best for her and the dentists all made me feel guilty.

[zeke]

I was going to suggest reading exactly the same article faintymacabre! How ridiculous to offer advice that directly contricts the WHO etc!

[zeke]

Opps I meant contradicts advice from the world health organisation and many, many other major medical bodies.

Evidence from a sample of one is rubbish I know but, my son was breastfed at night way after that and his teeth are perfect still age five!

[duchesse]

She's a lunatic.

[LadyOfWaffle]

Thanks for the link and info

Rhubs, it was me who was seeing the dentist for a broken tooth, babies just go on your notes I think

I am dreading taking my DS1 (3.2) there now incase he has tooth decay!

[oodlesofpoodles]

I was bf until 15 months and got my first (and only) filling when I was 30. My teeth are v crooked but thats due to thumb sucking rather than feeding.