I think DD has a cavity

[AMJ]

Hi,

I'm having a rough week, or maybe I should say that my DD is having a rough week. My DD is almost 21 months old. For the past week, she has had some nasty virus making her throw up and vomit, so we're feeling a bit on edge. Last night, I was giving DD a bath and noticed that one of her lower teeth had something on it. I tried to brush it off, but DD started screaming when I attempted to touch the inside of her mouth. When I was finally able to take a closer look, it appeared to be tooth decay. I've made an appointment with a pediatric dentist who we are going to see tomorrow.

DD is still nursing 1-2 times a day. I've been very open about our extended breastfeeding up until recently because I have been getting an increasing amount of criticism. I've been doing a little research online today and see that there is some relationship between nursing and tooth decay. I think that I'm a little overly sensitive today because I've been dealing with a sick and cranky toddler for the last few days, so I need some advice on how to handle the criticism that I am expecting to receive tomorrow. I really believe in the benefits of extended breastfeeding, but I feel horrible if it somehow contributed to my DD's pain.

Also, can anyone tell me what I should expect in terms of treatment if DD does have a cavity? How is something handled with such a young child.

Thanks for any advice. I really need it today.

[Stephanie L.]

Please check this out:

http://www.mothering.com/articles/gr.../cavities.html

I read this Mothering article around the time my DD was going through all this. I could NOT believe that nature would give us this White Gold/Perfect Food for our babies that could also be harmful.

I read, talked, and reseachered. What I learned was that breastmilk has protective agents or bacteria or something that is useful to the teeth. Soft/solid food, juice, cow/soy/etc. milk (anything other than BM), has sugars that become acids and they are the culprits. The acids eat the teeth creating the cavities.

By not thoroughly brushing/wiping teeth or sharing food (from a parent with the bacteria), a baby can develop caries. So even if you do clean babies teeth, there might be some apple juice still on the tongue that can start it all (..rare chance, I know!).

My DD was 14 months when we noticed this same problem. The dentist was VERY worried and told us we'd have to take care of it under full anethesia. She underwent the procedure at 18 months. Still almost exclusively breastfed at that time, it was hard to believe that the timy amount of food she ate could harm her so dramatically!

I posted a while back telling my story. I'll go get it...

[Stephanie L.]

We went through hell!
For my DD1's first 14 months of life we rarely brushed her teeth. She (almost) exclusively breastfed so I thought so little of it. But eating any food at all can introduce that bacteria and acid can form and sit there, decaying those tiny teeth.

We had to have my DD1's (top front four) teeth heavily repaired. After a certain point, they were not just cavities, the teeth were so fragile that they would chip off during brushing or eating. When they were about half chipped away (at 18 months) we had to have the dentist perform a surgery-like procedure on her.

PLEASE avoid this at ALL costs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She had to not eat anything (including breastmilk) for several hours before being admitted to the hospital. We'd always breastfed every 2 hours so this alone was a difficult beginning.

She had to come into the awful hospital and asked for Mommy Milk and I declined ( ) for her first time. The nurse gave a her a drug that was similar to that amnesia-date-rape drug I think, where you don't remember anything while on it.

Then after some time she was "drunk and woosey" god this is making me cry! and wheeled her away on a stretcher.

Pause for bawling.

This was exactly two years ago.--Can't see keyboard.

After a while they brought her back. Her mouth was all swollen and bloody. She'd had tubes down her throat to keep her from ingesting vomit (should the drugs make her ill). She had four stainless steel caps with white paint on the front.

She saw me and asked for mommy milk. I looked to the nurses to see that it was now okay. They said no. She kept asking and asking. I said Hello! she's hungry and thirsty. What can I do!?! They brought a can of Sprite with a straw.

WTF!?!

I have never given her soda (like it myself, occasionally...), but WHY ARE WE HERE? She has tooth decay issues and you are giving her a can of soda?!

Okay. So I refused that and said what's wrong with nursing her? They finally let me and the poor baby could barely latch on with all that mouth soreness.

After a while she was fine. But the plans, preparation and all was awful. Seeing my sweet babe like that was THE WORST! I urge all Mamas to please brush/wipe teeth/gums with a washcloth several times each day. My situation is more common than you might think. We weren't bad parents, just got unlucky.

I have ECC (early childhood caries) in my family--heredity is a factor, but not everything.

Now at 3 1/2 YO, my daughter is great. We brush her 3 times a day and are constantly thinking about it. We now have a new daughter and wipe her teeth after every feeding except night nursing.

BREASTMILK IS NOT TO BLAME!

Thanks for your ear...