We know that there are great advantages for infants who are
breastfed rather than bottle-fed. This includes receiving mother’s
antibodies against infections, cognitive development and working mouth
muscles more naturally during feeding. For all infants, the chance for
healthy smiles depends on their parents starting mouth care early. I
have three concerns to discuss.
First is mouth cleaning. Some parents may want to start right at birth
by using a water-dampened cloth to wipe their infants’ gum pads,
tongue, and other soft tissues. Once teeth appear, you should continue
mouth cleaning with a soft toothbrush or a clean cloth especially
before bed. If you are providing daily mouth cleansing and not
overusing bottles, I suggest avoiding fluoride toothpaste until your
baby’s molars appear.
Second, some parents know that tooth decay can happen with on demand
bottle-feeding, but most parents do not realize that baby teeth can
suffer decay with breastfeeding. Research suggests that human
breast milk is not as cariogenic (decay producing) as cows milk;
however, breast milk can support tooth decay as other foods rich in
sugars and starches are common parts of an infant or toddler diet. It
is the frequency of nursing (or any feeding of sugars and starches)
that is the key risk to tooth decay. Therefore, if you nurse your baby
on demand, and especially if your baby sleeps with you and can nurse
on demand, the risk for decay increases. I would suggest that you do
mouth wiping more frequently and especially before bed if you nurse
your baby on demand once teeth first appear.
Parents, especially the primary caregiver (usually mom), must know
that if they have tooth decay and bleeding gums, the germs that cause
these problems will be passed in their saliva to their infants or
toddlers. This happens through normal activities of child-care (i.e.
sharing spoons, their hands to your mouth, kissing their hands, etc).
Mouth care for your infant is about love and bonding and is an
investment in your baby's health and future. If you want more
information about your role in your child's oral health and
development, please visit http://www.AboutSmiles.com.
Dr. Fred S. Ferguson, Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, School of
Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook.
For more information:
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Web Site: http://www.aapd.org
Oral Health: A Family Affair; Arthur Nowak, Pediatric Basics
Number 91/Spring 2000
Please note:
This article represents the medical
opinion of Dr. Ferguson. His suggestions and recommendations may not
be suitable for everyone. Parents who are concerned about the oral
health of their baby should contact their pediatrician or pediatric
dentist.
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