broken teeth challenge overcome

[sugarpop]

I wanted to share my story in case anyone else was going through anything similar. DD is 22 months. She has terrible teeth. I have seen 1 general dentist and 3 pediatric dentists...the problem, breastfeeding. Yep, DDs teeth, turned green, chipped until there was very little left and I am to thank, well my milk anyhow.

OK I don't believe this, but it is frustrating, as I still don't know how to fix it from happening again. The only advice I got was to wean, brush her teeth and use fluoride. I brush 2x a day and have since she was 9 months old. Maybe not 2x a day always...but still. My mother has stories of people putting pepsi, watered down, in the child's bottle...and they didn't have teeth rot out of their heads!

So breastfeeding was awful, everytime she wanted it, I gave it, and that was ALOT! I mean every few hours and throughout the night. Chipped razor teeth hurt, I had headaches from clenching my jaw to deal with the pain. I would snap and say no bite, she wasn't (I realize now), but her top teeth were resting on me and it hurt!

This week, I did the only thing possible and allowed the dentist to fix her teeth. One was so far gone that the cavity was in the root and had to be pulled because it was causing pain...another capped and three more filled.

That last paragraph...makes me sound like a no good, careless, good for nothing mother...all I can say is...I know that I took every step possible to keep her healthy, something went wrong, but I didn't cause it! (my insecurities coming out)

Well the surgery was wednesday, she went under general anesthesia, I am so scared of those drugs, I have refused it for myself, but I felt/feel I had no other option!

LET ME TELL YOU...I love breastfeeding again. I forgot how painless it could be. I am so glad I didn't wean and have my last experience with her be a painful one. She enjoys it so much, she is just not ready to give it up. AND now she can eat and not be in pain. So weaning will happen some day, sooner now than before, because she can eat and not be in pain!

And that is my experience, that was my challange, I am sure there will be more and I look forward to overcoming each one!

[HappyMonkey]

My daughter also had to have GA teeth surgery (3 pulled, 3 fixed) and also BF improved after. Her personality also started to shine happy again.. I think the pain had been really getting to her. The last few months before her scheduled surgery she was so quiet and didn't smile very much. The day after she started to laugh again. I feel I made the right choice.

Also for us BF, no bottles, no candy, organic food etc. Tooth decay has to be such a multi factored problem.