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Does breast milk cause cavities in nursing infants?
By KIM GLOVER, R.D.H.
It’s 2:45 a.m. Your baby just
dropped off to sleep while nurs-
ing. You watch as her li le mouth
makes feeding mo ons in the air as
you shi her into her crib. At mes
like this, you may wonder if you will
have to limit breas eed-
ing a er your baby
has teeth. You may
have already
seen photos of
the condi on
called Baby
Bo le
Tooth Decay (BBTD). BBTD is pre-
ventable condi on, o en requiring
dental fi llings, crowns or extrac ons
while a small child is under general
anesthesia. Can breast milk cause
babies to get cavi es?
If you are concerned that breast-
feeding will cause your baby to
have cavi es, worry no longer.
Moms who want to breas eed past
six months, a year, or longer can be
assured that their milk won’t cause
their babies to have tooth decay. In
addi on to all the prebio cs, pro-
bio cs, growth hormones, healthy
fats and immunity codes that
breast milk provides, it also has lac-
toferrin. Lactoferrin in breast
milk actually protects the
teeth from the bacteria
that cause cavi es.
Mul ple studies
in various coun-
tries over the last
25 years conclude
that there seems
to be no corre-
la on between
breast milk and
dental cavi es.
Interna onal
speaker and
Kansas den st
Dr. Brian Palmer
has studied
prehistoric
skulls, looking
for dental decay.
He has found that
prehistoric infants
did not exhibit
the tooth decay
we see in modern
mes. He presumes
that prehistoric babies
and small children
were breas ed several
mes a day, at all hours, and
for years longer than most chil-
dren are breas ed now. The lack of
dental decay seen in these ancient
skulls has lead Dr. Palmer to believe
that breas eeding was and is s ll
safe for our children’s teeth.
Elizabeth Michael is a lacta on
consultant and registered nurse at
St Anthony Hospital in Pendleton.
She explains that when a baby
nurses while properly posi oned at
the breast, the milk prac cally by-
passes all of the teeth. The milk hits
the so palate (the so ssue near
the back of the roof of the mouth)
fi rst, and is swallowed. This is diff er-
ent than when a baby drinks from a
bo le. Babies drink diff erently from
an ar fi cial nipple, causing the milk
or formula to pool around the teeth
during the feeding. Unfortunately,
formula can cause tooth decay,
as it does not have the protec ve
proper es for the teeth that breast
milk has.
Breast milk does not cause tooth
decay, but any baby can s ll get
cavi es if they are given formula or
100 percent fruit juice in a bo le or
sippy cup. Liquid medica ons can
also cause cavi es. Prac ce good
cleaning habits at home by using
Young
Children
gauze or a thin damp washcloth
to swab baby’s mouth out twice a
day, whether she has teeth or not.
Whenever possible, give medica-
on well before bed me, and chase
it with water or breast milk so sug-
ars do not remain in the mouth.
Hopefully, knowing that breast
milk is safe for your baby’s teeth,
you’ll have one less thing to worry
about at 2:45 am.
________
Kim Glover is a Registered Dental
Hygienist at Broadway Family Den-
tal Care (www.bwaydental.com) in
Milton-Freewater.
HEATHER A. BACON, PH.D. &
JENNIFER K. COOPER, PSY.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologists
Helping parents discover new ways to shape
behavior and reconnect with children.
Currently accepting new patients.
Most insurance and private pay accepted.
860 W. Elm Ave., Suite 204, Hermiston, OR 97838
541-289-7777 • hermistonpsych.com