Milk after brushing teeth

[Suzie81]

My daughter has started wanting milk in bed. Previously we'd have milk downstairs and then go up, brush teeth and then bed. But now we're often brushing teeth and then having milk. Is this okay for her teeth? In my mind milk was always good for teeth, but now I'm wondering if that's more about the calcium absorbed via digestion and that I'm essentially sending her to bed with dirty teeth?

You're right in thinking the calcium has to be digested and taken up into the teeth via the blood. Not a dentist but there is a certain amount of sugar in milk and having that swilling around in the mouth all night doesn't seem ideal.

Milk has sugars in it and having it right before sleep means there will be no saliva to wash it away while she's sleeping. You are effectively coating her teeth in sugar and leaving them all night.

Does that mean it's bad for breastfed babies with teeth to feed overnight?

Okay thanks. Will have to revert back to normal.

Public Health England seem quite positive about breastfeeding and tooth decay. So as long as you maintain twice daily brushing? Would seem like immediately after brushing teeth might not be the ideal time to breastfeed and then sleep but unlikely this has been studied in detail.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/breastfeeding-and-dental-health/breastfeeding-and-dental-health#breastfeeding-and-dental-health

If the child has healthy teeth that have been well brushed before bed then breastfeeding through the night won't damage their teeth.

All of mine had bedtime milk after brushing teeth. Some breastmilk, some cow's milk. They chose to stop having their bedtime milk anywhere between 3y and 8y.

All teens now, and not a single filling.

OTOH generally healthy diet, occasional sweets/cakes/dried fruits etc, virtually no squash or fizzy drinks, with twice-daily brushing and regular visits to the dentist.

Yeah, we avoid juice and sweets, plus brush twice a day. But to be honest I'll just stop the bedtime milk after teeth as it's a bit of a pain anyway.