Concern about Pediatric Dentist re: Extended BFing and Enamel

[filiadeluna]

Ugh!  So we are taking DD to the dentist for the first time soon @ 22 months.  I know, I know, I should have done it almost a year ago, but life got in the way.  Anyhow, I do not have many options as far as pediatric dentists that will accept our insurance in the area.  There is a place I found that accepts it that comes highly recommended from friends, but none that I know that still BF their toddlers.  I went to download their "Patient Health History" Intake form.  I've read it over, and this line really bothers/worries me:

"Does your child have a history of taking a bottle/nursing and/or sippy cup after (1) one year of age?"

Um, yes, my child still breastfeeds FREQUENTLY (including at night - OMG), and has a "history" (makes it sound like a prison record) of doing so.  She also occasionally has water out of a sippy cup because she likes the cold water on her teeth when she is teething.  She spills water everywhere if it is in a regular cup. 

Problem is, she DOES have some enamal decay on her top front teeth only, but I know that this can be genetic and develop as an issue in-utero.  She has NEVER had juice, soda, or any of that sugary crap to drink.  I ever don't give her candy either.  But I have given her ice to chew on when she was teething, and now I've read that can cause teeth to chip??  DH has given her popcorn a few times, too.    Brushing her teeth is always traumatic, though, and I feel like maybe I'm not able to do it well enough.  I am afraid they will try to blame it on breastfeeding.  I refuse to wean her and will tell them so.

Anyway, I have done my research as a lactation educator, and KNOW that breastfeeding protects, rather than brings harm to teeth.  I plan on printing and taking paperwork to this effect.  However, I would love to have as many resources as possible.  Please share any info you have that includes documentation.  I'm hoping this can help some other EBFing moms too.  Thanks!

[fruitfulmomma]

No research but I answered yes to that question for both my (then) 3yo and 18mo and no one said anything about it. Last check up he only asked about a bottle or sippy. I said no and didn't volunteer any further info. Hopefully they won't bug you.

[Peony]

LLL had a great article a couple years back on teeth decay and nursing, I'd try searching their website. 

[filiadeluna]

Thanks everyone!  The visit was pretty traumatic for us (DD is very sensitive).  She freaked out/screamed/cried when she had to lie down in the chair. 

They did keep saying that nursing at night can be an issue because of sugar pooling around her teeth (what BULL!).  They told me I should wipe off her teeth with a washcloth in between each night nursing session.  HA!  Right.  Sure.  I just smiled and nodded.  They were nice about it - not harassing, but I was still quite annoyed at the whole thing.

Anyway, there is another issue now, and I'm going to Xpost in another forum (maybe Toddlers?)...

DD has to get dental crowns on some of her top teeth (as I suspected).  They recommended putting her under general anesthesia and doing so at the hospital, because otherwise she will thrash and scream and make it impossible for them to fix her teeth.  I'm going to research the medicines they said they were going to give her, because I like to be informed, and if they are something I don't agree with I'll need to check into alternatives.  But they told me that I cannot give her any food or drink including breastmilk after MIDNIGHT the night before, and that is a major issue for me.  She does not go to sleep until midnight most nights, and nurses 2-3 times after that plus a whole bunch as soon as she wakes up and again shortly after that.  I am used to feeding her on demand, and she is a highly sensitive little girl.  If I were to refuse her breastmilk ALL of those times, she would scream until she makes herself sick (choking on her tears and saliva).  Seriously.  What the heck am I supposed to do?!!!  My instincts tell me I cannot refuse to breastfeed her, but is there an actual risk (what is it, aspiration or something?) if I nurse her anyway?      Anyone have any experiences with a situation like this or information to help?  Thanks!

[AislinCarys]

I'm not an expert, and have no personal experience. But I do know from reading other threads at various forums that medical staff who do know what they are talking about, recommend that breastmilk intake can usually be taken much later than other milks, due to it being a clear fluid and going through much faster than formula or solids. I think it is usually half the time recommended for other foods. Hopefully someone who knows exactly will come on and help out!

[kalamos23]

I just posted in another thread, but DD had a similar surgery at 27mo and is still night nursing. Breast milk is considered a clear fluid and you can nurse up to 3-4 hours before the surgery. DD is also a night owl (I'm so glad I'm not the only one with a kid like this!) and I just scheduled the surgery for the first thing in the morning so that she was still way groggy and slept the whole way there. You can give apple juice at 2 hours before if you want. 

From what I have found, dental caries can be cause by a bacteria called streptococcus mutans, which is passed from parent to child via eating from the same utensils, kissing, etc. It usually doesn't effect parents like it does the child since their teeth are still calcifying. The bacteria creates acid which wears down the enamel faster in children since it is thinner. You might find that your DD naturally doesn't nurse quite as much at night after around 2yo, that is when DD slowed down from every 2-4 hours to maybe 1-2 times a night and sometimes not at all (though I must say, she has definitely picked up lately...). DD had some extensive work done (pulpotomies (baby crowns) on both front top teeth, 1 root canal, a filling and 2 extractions). We had them seal all the teeth that they could to help prevent future cavities until her adult teeth could come in, and try to push brushing her teeth more. So far at 31mo, it is looking good, though I wish she would have gotten composite bondings on her front top teeth instead of caps, since she has broken both caps off (though it looks like she might have fallen and hit her teeth so they were knocked loose). I have a composite bonding on one of my front teeth and know it wears well, so if that is an option, I would definitely bring it up with your dentist if she is going to be under already.Plus, it looks way more natural than DD's half metal/half porcelain veneers front teeth. 

If you need more info, PM me, I don't hang out as much on MDC as I used to :)

Rachel