breastfeeding and tooth decay

[dorisbonkers]

Hi. Took my 19-month old DD to pedodontics dept at hospital (suspected cyst, but actually just wonky tooth) and the dentist said I should knock breastfeeding on the head as it led to tooth decay.

She said she sees a lot of breastfed (at night) two year olds with rotten teeth. My DD is fine as I pin her down and brush her teeth twice a day but she urged me to wind the feeding down.

I am actually in the process of weaning my on demand 19-month old as her hourly/two-hourly feeds are getting too much and I haven't had a period, but I hadn't heard of this. I kind of like the excuse to strengthen my resolve! But I'm also into evidence-based treatment so would like to know if it's bollocks.

It had occurred to me effectively she's got food with sugars in it in her mouth a lot at night but someone told me that there was something in breastmilk that prevented caries.

Anyone?

My son was bf until after he started school. he is now nearly 10 and has never needed any dental work, despite regular check ups.

Neither have my 2 dds but they were only bf a year each.

Take her to another dentist and get another opinion.

I have always heard that if you brush their teeth first, it's ok - it's if there are bits of other food in the mouth and the breastmilk is mixing with all that and swilling it around that it's a problem.

There is a problem with milk in bottles because it can "pool" behind the teeth - breast milk does not do this, because the nipple is further back in the mouth, away from the teeth, and the milk doesn't flow unless the child is actively suckling.

I am surprised as well to hear that she has seen "lots" of 2 year olds who are still breastfed at night, I should imagine it's only a very small percentage of 2 year olds are still breastfeeding at all!

This suggests not

I mean not as in no link between breastfeeding and caries.

Thanks, it did seem a bit rum. Also, she asked if she bit me as she's 'dentally advanced' (haha, proud mum alert). Now that sounds like someone who doesn't really know the ins and outs of breastfeeding beyond 6 months.

I still plan on weaning her over next few months. Already done the feed between 7am-5pm. Just knocked the pre-dinner feed on the head tonight and will try Jay Gordon next week and go slow.

I had two hour's sleep last night!

Ha, this old chestnut! You should check out this thread. This supposed link to tooth decay is nothing but an urban myth. The latest research shows that breastfeeding neither causes nor prevents tooth decay. Here is another link to a good study which you should show to your dentist. Who knows, perhaps she will become interested in scientific evidence and maybe even start reading some occasionally.

The causes of tooth decay are sugary foods (which include formula but not breastmilk) and inadequate tooth brushing. Of course the dentist has heard the same urban myths as everyone else, spots the unusual BF two-year-old and feels proud that she has identified a slightly more interesting reason for decay than the ones she normally gives people ...

It's so reassuring to check views on mumsnet. I had read elsewhere that bf at night would cause tooth decay but now I am back at work four days a week, my baby seems to night feed more. This has become my best option to be sure I can keep bfing my nearly-9- month old. Thanks