Tooth decay and extended breastfeeding?

Question

Our baby was at the peds office today for a yeast infection. My husband mentioned that I am nursing her. She is not pro-breastfeeding at all. I'd love to switch- he likes her and wants to stay. Another post....

She mentioned to him that extended breastfeeding has been shown to cause cavities. Our baby is 14 months old and brushes her teeth twice a day- when I am getting ready for work and when she is getting dressed after bath. My husband was floored when he heard about this and came home upset.

Does anyone have links I could read on tooth decay and breastfeeding a baby older than 1? I looked and really didn't find much in support of or against this "factoid".

Lets not go here: weaning. I work in a poor school and bring home all sorts of things and she has not gotten sick at all except for pink eye last year. She is self weaning and I am happy with her progress thus far.

Is this true and something we need to be concerned about?

Ohh...thank you! You have all eased my worries. If there are more- I sure would love to read them.

At our daughter's first appt. as a newborn- she handed us formula. I in turn gave it to the homeless shelter down the street from my school. I would love to change, but my husband is not yet on board. He is getting there though. I am printing some of these for him to read as well as me.

Any others???

...he may be on board after reading all of this info. Incredible. It is so past time to switch!

I am still reading. Thank you all!

Tanya- what a fantastic idea!!!
I think I'll do that.
Thank you for the compliment. I love breastfeeding- and if I can help even one person- then it's worth it...it is so, SO worth it!

Take good care!

Lol...I KNOW Do your own thinking- I just need to get my husband to see this nonsense and agree. He likes her because she is flexible and she is easy to talk to. I don't find that to be true when she expects our baby to be on a 3 hour feeding "schedule" as a newborn- it's not appropriate. I am looking at some other peds in our area and hopefully he will sign on with this change. He is usually the one to take her in because he is off in the daytime and I am at work. We need to agree on this though- in my opinion anyway.

Thank you all for your support. He was floored with the articles- absolutely floored by her- the doctor's misconceptions.

She has no children of her own. I think this makes a big difference. The one ped. I love is not covered by our insurance. So- we are looking.

Thank you for all of your time and your help. I really appreciate it!

Answer 1

No extended breastfeeding does not cause cavities, nor does night feedings. Breastmilk in and of itself is NOTcariogenic. Breastmilk unlike cows milk and formula can assist in remineralization.

*lol* I have had this fight with three dentists now, two of which are pediatric dentists one of whom had the nerve to tell me breastmilk has not benefit after 6 months.

You know what DOES cause cavities -certain strains of certain bacteria (strep mutans and something else). The pH of your saliva (which is determined genetically) is also a factor. However if you do not have the few strains of bacteria that cause most tooth decay you can not brush, eat sugar, etc, etc and chances are you won't get cavities. Unfortunately "they" have no way of specifically treating this underlying cause so cavities are blamed on everything else. Cavities in small children are increasing in frequency even though parents now brush (your mom probably didn't brush your teeth when you were a baby, your grandmother certainly didn't brush her toddler's teeth.)

Would you say that breastfeeding causes the flu? Nope because the flu is caused by a virus. Certainly good health and handwahsing can help prevent the flu -but that doesn't make it some shameful thing to get the flu. So why are parents so often told cavities are their fault? Dental caries are a communicable disease -end of story. Unfortunately once you have contracted it it is not easy to get rid of it, nor always easy to even manage the symptoms. But the best thing you can do to prevent ANY disease is be in good health.

"Dental caries is an infectious, communicable, multifactorial disease in which bacteria dissolve the enamel surface of a tooth"
http://ochealthinfo.com/newsletters/phbulletin/2000/2000-fall.htm

"It should be noted that dental caries is an infectious, communicable disease resulting in destruction of tooth structure by acid-forming bacteria found in dental plaque, an intraoral biofilm, in the presence of sugar. "
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?indexed=google&rid=hstat4.section.21698

The BEST thing you can do today to prevent early childhood caries is make sure your child sees a dentist NO LATER than 6 months after the eruption of their first tooth and insist that the dentist apply fluoride sealant at each visit every 6 months. I am not a fan of fluoride, and I believe it should NOT be in our drinking water. However fluoride sealant has been shown to dramatically reduce early childhood caries and has the lowest systemic dosage of all treatment options (water, toothpastes, mouth washes, drops, etc, etc).

Also, IMHO even IF breastfeeding after the eruption of the first teeth did increase the risks of cavities the benefits of breastfeeding are still overwhelmingly greater than that small risk.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/tooth-decay.html


Assessment of early childhood caries and dietary habits in a population of migrant Hispanic children in Stockton, California.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10656122&dopt=Citation
"CONCLUSIONS: Our findings question whether feeding patterns with human breast milk, formula, or bovine milk are sufficient etiologic factors for this condition."

http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v187/n9/full/4800311a.html
An interesting group of studies provides evidence against the hypothesis that human breast milk might cause caries.

There is controversy over the cariogenic potential of human breast milk (HBM). Five studies using donated HBM examined the question.

Plaque pH was determined in samples removed from 18 children aged 12-24 months, before and up to 1 hr after a 5 minute feed: minimum pH recorded for HBM was 6.4, representing a drop of 0.6, compared with 5.3 and 1.4 for a 10% sucrose solution consumption and 6.7 and 0.3 for water.

Further studies indicated that: HBM supported moderate bacterial growth; HBM encouraged Ca and P deposition on powdered enamel; HBM had minimal buffering capacity; HBM was not cariogenic on human enamel in vitro. While the buffering capacity was easily exceeded, the authors concluded HBM was not itself cariogenic.

http://www.aapd.org/upload/articles-old/tinanoff11-02.pdf
Milk also has been implicated as a cariogenic drink, but
the sugar found in milk—lactose—is not fermented to the
same degree as other sugars. Additionally, it may be less
cariogenic because the phosphoproteins in milk inhibit
enamel dissolution52,53 and the antibacterial factors in milk
may interfere with the oral microbial flora.54 Human breast
milk also has been shown to not cause enamel decalcification
in laboratory experiments.55 While the reduced
cariogenicity of milk is clear, it may be the vehicle for more
cariogenic substances. Parents should avoid combining milk
or milk formulas with other food products or sugar.56 Additionally,
those infant formulas that contain sucrose instead
of lactose may be particularly cariogenic.

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1517-74912002000300004&script=sci_arttext&tlng=
No significant associations were found between the prevalence of caries and socioeconomic status, frequency of oral hygiene, nocturnal bottle- and breast-feeding or cariogenic food and beverage intake during the day. However, the association between caries and oral hygiene quality (dental biofilm) was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The results suggest that the presence of a thick biofilm was the most important factor for the occurrence of early childhood caries in the evaluated sample.

http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/abstract/135/1/55
No association was found between breast-feeding and caries in primary teeth.

http://www.contemporaryoralhygieneonline.com/issues/articles/2007-03_06.asp
Human Milk
Caries is a multifactorial disease. While creating an environment for health is laudable, it is not the only answer. If a person went to a physician with bronchitis, the doctor wouldn't insist the patient fly to a destination with purer air or breathe purified oxygen from a tank. The physician would most likely apply a medical intervention that would affect the bacterial cause of the infection and encourage better airway hygiene. In dentistry, as a way to affect the disease of caries, we are guilty of this type of illogic. We look to eliminate the foods that allow the bacteria to flourish. Sugars are often identified as the main source of nourishment for cariogenic bacteria, and patients are often instructed to avoid sugars—and this includes breast milk.

Instructing nursing mothers to eliminate on-demand breast-feeding for dental reasons is not based on sound, current science, and followed at great cost to mother and child.5 As early as the 1980s, research showed that nursing mothers pass their antibodies against S mutans in their breast milk and that breast milk has curative effects for dental caries.6,7 It is time for dental professionals to move to a more enlightened response regarding breast-feeding and ECC.

Human milk has been the subject of numerous studies exploring possible links between breast-feeding and caries. The American Academy of Pediatrics reviewed the available literature on breast-feeding and, in 2005, recommitted to promoting breast-feeding.8 In 2001, the World Health Organization also strongly recommended breast-feeding.9 In part these official statements may hint that, despite the emerging research on ECC, attitudes among doctors have not changed enough since a 1995 assessment, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, of physician's attitudes about breast-feeding.10 If the idea of breast-feeding in general needs such strong public endorsement by respected professional organizations in the face of societal norms and physicians' prejudice, what does this suggest about attitudes toward mothers who breast-feed their toddlers after the eruption of teeth? The emergence of support groups and online chat rooms for nursing mothers offers evidence, as well, that nursing mothers feel the need to defend their choice.


http://yourreturn.blogspot.com/2005/12/early-childhood-caries-understanding.html
The importance of breastfeeding cannot be underestimated. During breastfeeding the mother passes vital nutrients to her child. It is also a source of warmth and physical and emotional contact for the child. Breastfeeding should be carried on as long as the child desires, which can be anywhere from two years to four and a half years in length. The breast milk of a mother who is charged with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, will delay or even prevent childhood tooth decay. Dr. Brian Palmer has extensively studied the question of whether infant dental decay is related to breast feeding. The answer is clearly, NO. 7 The worse thing you could do for your child with cavities is to stop breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is one of the main cures to childhood infant caries. It is possible to breastfeed and still have a child with cavities because either the child cannot absorb enough nutrients from food, or the mother does not have enough nutrients in her milk, or both. A breast-feeding mother should make every effort to increase her level of health through nutrition to help prevent cavities in her child. She can also follow Weston Prices tooth decay prevention diet.

http://www.netwellness.org/ency/article/002061.htm
Breast milk by itself is the healthiest food for babies’ teeth, day or night. It tends to slow bacterial growth and acid production. However, when breast milk is alternated with sugary foods or drinks, the rate of tooth decay can be faster than with sugar alone.

http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breastfeeding-does-not-cause-cavities/
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports today that there is no link between breastfeeding and early childhood tooth decay. A new study examined data from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for children aged two to five. Several factors were considered, including oral health and infant feeding. The study “Association Between Infant Breastfeeding and Early Childhood Caries in the United States” found no tie between dental caries and breastfeeding, including prolonged breastfeeding. What was found to increase the risk of dental caries? Maternal smoking. That’s one more piece of information to add to the growing list of facts on cigarette smoking and breastfeeding.

http://www.drjaygordon.com/alezav16/default2.asp?tree=614
Big Bad Cavities- Breastfeeding Is Not the Cause

http://www.babyreference.com/CavitiesBreastfedBottlefed.html
Consider the whole child

Babies naturally experience hunger and need comforting during the night. Withholding response to these needs can possibly be more harmful to a child than any risk of damage to temporary teeth, although your dentist may feel that teeth are the primary concern. Certainly, the known health benefits of extended breastfeeding outweigh any potential challenges to temporary teeth. While dental treatments on infants are traumatic, warranting preventive measures, the mere possibility of infant caries (about a 14% chance) is not enough of a worry that I would withhold or withdraw important feeding and comforting from any infant, especially before any such symptoms have occurred. Feeding and comforting practices can be modified when needed to protect teeth, without blunt, drastic weaning measures.

Toddler Tips:
Coping with Dental Caries
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug00p134.html



Was the Tooth Fairy Breastfed
The Politics of Infant Tooth Decay
http://www.library.unsw.edu.au/~thesis/adt-NUN/uploads/approved/adt-NUN20061116.123141/public/02whole.pdf

Answer 2

I agree that it's probably just a phase and you'll have to find a way to break it. I breastfed my daughter for 15 months until she lost interest and refused to nurse. She slept through the night since 8 weeks old though. I do remember once in a while she went through phases where breastfeeding wasn't that important to her but her night feeding before bedtime was always important. I'm currently breastfeeding my 6 month old son and hope to for at least 18 months or more.

Answer 3

You got some awesome answers here already, so I won't repost all the links I see...

I do want to encourage you to educate your pediatrician... I know it shouldn't be your responsibility, but you give lots of great breastfeeding answers yourself on this forum... print up some of these things you've just gotten and give them to her, maybe buy her a used copy of a good breastfeeding book, or give one of yours up, if the practice has an email address, forward her all those links too!

if you can afford it, buy her a copy of a medical refenrence on breastfeeding like THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK (LLL) ... or ... BREASTFEEDING: A GUIDE FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.... at the very least recommend that she needs to have one so she can be better informed.

I've done this w/ my peds office... they were positive about stuff, but didn't have many answers to be helpful... they did have an IBCLC number they dispensed and recommended LLL to some but it ended there. They now have a copy of THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK and prominently display that IBCLC's info and LLL info on a bulletin board near the payment counter... it helps that in their practice (3 docs) that they have 2 La Leche League Leaders and many members of that group PLUS the IBCLC has her own group who's members prefer their practice.... so they're happy to receive corrections as needed!!!

peds have tons of patients... if one can enlighten the doctor on such a crucial topic - that info will overflow into the rest of the community!!!

Answer 4

She's lying. Ill go find you a good article! Wait to go breastfeeding mom! I want to breastfeed my DD untill she's 2. That my goal!

Edit: heres a good link. It about breastfeeding in general but it does mention extended nursing
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/tooth-decay.html
Heres more articles on it
http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/myths/dentalca.htm
http://www.personalmd.com/news/n0127071811.shtml
http://www.whfhhc.com/Breastfeeding/6493.htm

Hope this helps. I would also look into finding a new ped. One you can trust for accurate info! Good luck and god bless!

Some more links
http://www.aapd.org/media/pressreleases/breastfeeding-99.asp
http://breastfeeding.about.com/b/2007/10/06/no-association-between-breastfeeding-and-tooth-decay.htm
http://www.breastfeeding.ecoparents.com/caries.html

P.S. Thats AWFUL your doctor gave you formula at your visit. Obviously not well educated! I had lots of difficulty breastfeeding and my family doctor requested I stay in the hospital an extra day to try to get nursing help!

Answer 5

You and your husband should read this article.

More than three dozen studies showed that my son's early cavities (also called caries) were not caused by nursing-breastmilk is not cariogenic-but by an infectious disease classified only recently as Early Childhood Caries (ECC).1 Moreover, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), breastfed children are less likely to develop this disease than their bottle-fed counterparts, and population-based studies do not support a link between prolonged breastfeeding and ECC.

Your pediatrician is nuts.... Breast milk is "the perfect food." I'd print out the article and give it to her.

http://www.mothering.com/articles/growing_child/child_health/cavities.html

Answer 6

Dear Mr NY_Attitude:

A paediatrician who hands out formula is a lousy paediatrician!

Signed,
Yahoo! Answers Busybody

Answer 7

I would consider staying with that doctor only if you are confident in her other areas of medicine. I wouldn't be. She is ABSOLUTELY WRONG that breastfeeding causes cavities. Studies have shown that breastmilk does not in any way attack enamel. Not even cow's milk causes cavities unless you prop a bottle containing cereal when baby goes to sleep. Formula is a different story as much of it contains corn syrup or other additives that cause cavities.

Answer 8

i breast fed my son till he was 3,
he has perfect teeth,
my doctor was great and told me to b/f as long as possible and told me that tooth decay is more common in bottle fed (juice in bottles) than breast..
id change docs you need support not to be told things like that