Night nursing leading to cavities?

[LadyCatherine185]

I had a friend of mine who works for a pediatric dentist tell me that I needed to brush Liam's teeth after he nurses at night before bed.. (I didn't tell her that he nurses all through the night too.. )
She told me she has seen a lot of bad cavity issues with babies/toddlers who nurse at night after brushing their teeth... Is this true? Am I going to cause him to get cavities by nursing him at night???

TIA!

[Sara806]

I am extremely curiousa about the same, thank you for posting this query.

My BF 15-month-old son (happily nursing at night) has gray spots on the inside of his top incisors and my ped said "stop nursing at night" (which I politely ignored) and "go to a dentist!" which I guess I'll do (my DS has 14 teeth already), but I'm nervous that I'll just get told that it's the fault of nursing.

Thanks,
Sara

[MaryJaneLouise]

Actually, the teeth brushing is a good idea, even if he nurses all night. You need to get the non-milk food off his teeth and all clean before overnight. The breastmilk will not cause cavities, IF his mouth is clean of everything else.

[LianneM]

I've seen a lot of anecdotal evidence - kids who nurse all night for several years with no cavity issues. My son is one of them. We always brush his teeth before bed, and we have water available so sometimes his mouth gets rinsed during the night but we don't push it.

From what I've read, it has more to do with genetics and sugar consumption.

[LadyCatherine185]

Originally Posted by MaryJaneLouise

Actually, the teeth brushing is a good idea, even if he nurses all night. You need to get the non-milk food off his teeth and all clean before overnight. The breastmilk will not cause cavities, IF his mouth is clean of everything else.

oops, didnt clarify i do brush his teeth, but i do it before he nurses to sleep.

[LianneM]

Dr. Sears Link

Kellymom Link with studies cited

Article on The Natural Child website

Article on All Natural Mommies website

[arelyn]

Originally Posted by LianneM

From what I've read, it has more to do with genetics and sugar consumption.

This is what my FIL who is a dentist and an AP supporter says.

[craft_media_hero]

I didn't buy it. My girl was a night nurser, and we just brushed her teeth before getting into bed and then after waking up in the morning. She's never had any cavities yet.

[Halfasianmomma]

Well, I just got back from the dentist and my DD (15 months) has two, maybe three cavities that need fixing ASAP. The dentist pretty much blamed me for it, saying that night-nursing was the culprit. Something about the sugar from the breastmilk rotting the teeth...bull.

I've done my best to "brush" DD's teeth with a washcloth and sometimes with a toothbrush, but honestly, it's WAR when I do it (by myself, I might add, since STBX doesn't "do" toothbrushing).

So, major dental surgery + general anesthetic aside, I'm going to have to sit on my daughter to restrain her while I brush her teeth twice a day for at least a minute. Joy.

All this is very strange to me because I had horrid dental hygiene when I was a child and I never got a single cavity until my wisdom teeth came in at 17. STBX, on the other hand, already has rotten teeth in his mouth, so perhaps DD gets her weak tooth enamel from him.

[AislinCarys]

The latest and largest studies done on this show breastfeeding is NOT associated with caries in any way!

I think these are the studies.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11242425

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...ull/120/4/e944

[NotTheOnlyOne]

my ds1, 3 yr ols has night nursed until he was about 20 months with one cavity that was ewasily fixed. My 13 months old, has some missing enamel in places and already has had 3 cavaties fixed. We used the Versed at the dentist office instead of the general anesthesia. It was just fine. I still night nurse him, but I am very sure to brush super good before bed and when he wakes up. ANd yes, we use flouride. I think its less about the nursing, and more about the enamel and general brushing habits.

[Meadowlark1978]

I think it is genetics. By the time my kids were 15 months old, their 4 top teeth were starting to get serious cavities in them. We brush 2x a day from the beginning, our dentist said it is weak enamel. Especially since I am only 31, have good oral hygiene and have a complete upper denture. DH on the other hand has NEVER had a cavity and had horrible brushing habits as a child and teen.