Oral Health for your Breastfed Baby
by Dr. Fred S. Ferguson
 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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