anyone have problems with their night nurser and dental caries

[katbowling]

Dear Moms:
My hubbie got back from my 18 monther's ped. visit with a warning that we needed to stop night nursing immediately because of the potential problem with tooth decay. Ugh! My dd nurses on and off through the night (sometimes while we are both snoozing). She does have "discoloration" on the back of her teeth. I though this was because of the iron supplement she gets a few times a week. She's scheduled for a dentist's visit tomorrow because I'm out of my mind about this. Any similar stories. DD absolutely is furious with me because she must have her night boobah. We were starting to wean out some of the day time feedings but I was hoping to leave the night ones til later.

Kat

[Jody84]

OMG I feel your pain! Our dentist demands we wean aswell! but don't worry momma! Breast milk didn't cause that! Please read this article!! These dentists are not educated on this subject!

Up until recently, the only studies that had been done were on the effects of lactose (milk sugar, which breastmilk does contain) on teeth, not the effects of *complete* breastmilk with all its components. Breastmilk also contains lactoferrin, a component in breastmilk that actually kills strep mutans (the bacteria that causes tooth decay).


http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0838/is_2002_July-August/ai_100806978

http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/sweettooth.htm
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/tooth-decay.html

[EzrasMom]

Dental caries can be caused by a lot of things but probably not BFing. Other things to look at ... does your dd fall asleep with any other liquids in her mouth? Juice or cow's milk in a bottle or sippy?

I have a good friend who BFed past 24 months. Her DS had a number of cavities and they discovered that his food allergies were to blame. Allergies can alter the pH in the mouth, making the teeth more susceptible to bacteria.

Also, reflux can change the mouth's pH and cause cavities.

Good luck!

[Queen_au_Kegel]

There is also a strong corelation between genetics & dental caries.