I am certain that bf at night contributed to my DD's cavities.
After her first tooth was cut, I began using spiffies to clean her teeth. At 11 months I began brushing every night before bed with a non-flouride toothpaste. She's only had soda twice in her life, once Ginger Ale and once 7Up. She does not really like juice, but prefers water all day. She also did not show any real interest in solids until 2 years old and has never had a real taste for sweets. She has a dairy intolerance, so has never drank cow's milk and has also been on Calcium + D supplements since about 18 mo. I also was on calcium when pregnant with her and had no other health issues.
She also only fell asleep a few times from birth to 33 months (when we weaned) without the breast. Up to that time, she nursed every single night after having her teeth brushed and woke frequently throughout the night to nurse. Up until about 2 yo, there was little else on her teeth except breastmilk, especially at night.
I did not take her to the dentist until she was 3 years old based on common suggestions I received and had not used flouride on her teeth until then either. When I took her to the dentist, I learned that she had ten cavities, two of which are in her back molars and, upon being x-rayed, were almost to the pulp. I will add that we look in her mouth all the time and neither DH or I could see these cavities with our untrained eye and never suspected a problem.
Even though I feel she was probably predisposed to cavities because of my bacteria, the fact is I didn't know that until it was too late.
DD never had a bottle, even of breastmilk, so I thought I was doing the right thing by bf my DD until nearly 3 yo. I still feel that I did, except that I should have made more of an effort to help my daughter learn to fall asleep without the breast. It's not the bf, it's the frequent night nursing, which I am fairly certain contributed to her problem. I feel pretty confident that had I gotten the breastmilk off her teeth at night, I wouldn't be looking at ten cavities. You can imagine my guilt over this!
I just think others should know of this possibility. Your child may not have the bacteria that predisposes them to this issue. But it's better to know that it's a possibility and take preventative measures.
