As a new parent, you are constantly making choices to give your baby the best start. We know you work hard to follow recommendations for feeding and healthy habits. When it comes to your baby’s oral health, there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent a common problem: childhood tooth decay.
Tooth decay is actually the most common chronic disease found in childhood. While breastfeeding is wonderful for many health outcomes, like helping protect against infections, it’s also important to be aware of how feeding habits can affect those tiny teeth.
1. The Timing of Breastfeeding Matters
You may have heard that prolonged breastfeeding can increase the risk of tooth decay, and recent studies support this finding. What does “prolonged” mean?
Research shows that breastfeeding for more than 12 months is linked to an increased risk of dental decay in children.
If decay occurs, prolonged breastfeeding was also associated with an increase in the number of teeth affected. It is important to know that simply having breastfed your child or exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months was not associated with this risk. This finding about prolonged breastfeeding remains true even when accounting for a family’s background, ethnic background, and the child’s sugar intake.
2. Why Does Timing Affect Oral Health?
After 6 months, teeth start to erupt, and infants begin complementary feeding. Human milk naturally contains sugar.
The key risk factor may be the frequency of feeding.
• A higher frequency of any infant feeding, including breastfeeding can increase the risk of tooth decay.
• Frequent exposure to carbohydrates (sugars) disrupts the natural balance in the mouth, promoting the loss of minerals from the teeth.
• Some experts recommend limiting eating and drinking to a maximum of 7 times per day to promote tooth repair.
3. The Night-time Bottle Warning
If your child receives a bottle during the night, this is also strongly associated with an increased risk of tooth decay. During the night, your baby’s mouth produces less saliva. Saliva helps repair teeth and wash away food particles. Less saliva at night means any contents from the bottle (which often contain sugars) stay on the teeth longer, increasing the risk of decay.
4. Healthcare Professionals Advise
We encourage you to follow current recommendations about breastfeeding, as it provides many important benefits. However, healthcare professionals should also discuss the potential risk of increased tooth decay associated with prolonged breastfeeding. When discussing oral hygiene and feeding:
• Focus on Frequency: Be mindful of how often your child feeds, especially as their teeth come in.
• Discuss Nocturnal Feeding: Understand that night feeding (either bottle or prolonged, frequent breastfeeding) increases risk due to lower saliva flow.
• Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Proper oral care is always essential. Consult your healthcare provider and dentist about the best practices for promoting a healthy, cavity-free smile as your child grows.