My 19mo daughter has 5 categories of heart defects that were diagnosed at her birth (which is quite the story in and of itself). They have been managed by medications, which we are very happy for as it gives her time to grow before needing surgery.
That said, it is my feeling that these medications (which are thick and sweet, and she has taken at least 2x/daily since birth) are the cause of severe plaque on her teeth, along with what I am guessing is at least one dental carie (sp?) (I can feel a small hole/chip at the top of one of her front teeth, which is where the plaque build-up is the worst). I had been brushing her teeth with fluoride-free training toothpaste like I did all my kids until recently when I first felt the carie and switched to regular fluoride toothpaste to try to help.
My concern is the routine dental appointment I scheduled her for at the end of April. She still breastfeeds all day long and was breastfeeding all night long, too, until recently when I night weaned her. I'm afraid my dentist will blame her bad teeth on breastfeeding when I feel very certain that it has everything to do with these awfully sweet and syrup-y medications she's been on. Are there any articles I might read/print out that help defend extended breastfeeding and show that breastmilk and formula do NOT cause the same teeth problems?
Thanks!
That said, it is my feeling that these medications (which are thick and sweet, and she has taken at least 2x/daily since birth) are the cause of severe plaque on her teeth, along with what I am guessing is at least one dental carie (sp?) (I can feel a small hole/chip at the top of one of her front teeth, which is where the plaque build-up is the worst). I had been brushing her teeth with fluoride-free training toothpaste like I did all my kids until recently when I first felt the carie and switched to regular fluoride toothpaste to try to help.
My concern is the routine dental appointment I scheduled her for at the end of April. She still breastfeeds all day long and was breastfeeding all night long, too, until recently when I night weaned her. I'm afraid my dentist will blame her bad teeth on breastfeeding when I feel very certain that it has everything to do with these awfully sweet and syrup-y medications she's been on. Are there any articles I might read/print out that help defend extended breastfeeding and show that breastmilk and formula do NOT cause the same teeth problems?
Thanks!
