Night nursing and damaging teeth??

[kdescalzi]

Hi mamas,

I nurse my 15mo dd off and on all night and I have been getting worried about her teeth. Many people have told me that if they have milk sitting on their teeth all night long that it can cause cavities and such. I can see how it may not be good for her teeth but what can I do?? Aren't there many many babes out there nursing throughout the night?? Do they all get bad teeth?? I don't want to night wean yet....what do you wise mamas think??

[sharr610]

It totally depends on the kid. My son started getting cavities at that age. But, according to my awesome pediatric dentist here is why:
1. Its in his genes (my mom and husband both are prone to bad teeth)
2. We live in an area with no flouride in the water.
3. Eating solids
4. No routine brushing starting at an early age
5. Lots of dried fruit snacks
6. Night nursing

It was ALL of these things that led to his bad teeth, not just one. Most kids can night nurse and be fine. According to our dentist, its the kids who have a genetic leaning to caries(he estimates 5-10% of kids), that when you mix solids with breastmilk/cows milk/formula, it can lead to quick decay.

I'd recommend brushing twice a day and visiting a good dentist for a checkup. Most likely, all is fine .

[SaoirseC]

If you check the dental forums, you'll find a lot of posts about night-nursing and dental decay, as well as posts by a lot of mamas who were able to halt or prevent decay without night-weaning.

[ewe+lamb]

Our ds got cavities but it wasn't due to night nursing, as long as he ate no solids after cleaning his teeth before going to bed (with a little help from us) he nursed quite happily with no more dental decay thereafter, we have managed to halt the decay and my dh has stopped giving him silly chupa chups which were the instigator of the problem and nothing to do with night nursing - thank heavens!!! He night nursed until he was 3.