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amyable
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| Posted: July 27 2009 at 3:09pm | IP Logged
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We just got back from the dentist, where my 22 month old was found to have two cavities! We don't feed him a ton of sugar, or constant juice, or sticky snacks. We *do* do sugar, but not like all day or anything! Now, I do nurse him at night, sometimes for hours, although he is cutting back as he gets older. I've never taken kids to the dentist this early, but DS had an accident several months ago and the dentist checks up on the health of a tooth they replaced.
The dentist is taking a "wait and see" approach - he wants to see if DS's next set of molars come in with problems, then he would do everything at once. 
Have any of you had babies with bad teeth? What did you do? Were you nursing? Between this, the thrush I'm experiencing, and a few other things, I'm getting convinced I should night wean, and maybe even completely wean.
Guess I'm just looking for stories and commiseration!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: July 27 2009 at 3:22pm | IP Logged
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out of 8 kids ONE has massive tooth problems.. and since I've nursed all of them, during the night, to get them to sleep, etc. I'm totally NOT convinced that that is in any way shape or form a problem, they're comparing it to bottle use and ummm nope it isn't.
But my little guy had spots that obviously had no enamel when they came in. And I can't tell you how annoyed I get at a dentist that won't listen to that  .. oh I know they must hear all the time.. I have weak teeth or enamel or some such.. but SHEESH.. actual spots where you could see no enamel shouldn't be brushed off as, it's what he eats more than his teeth
OK that annoys me a little huh? 
But basically there IS a point where the teeth have problems that are due to something other than what they eat or drink or what time of the day they do so or how often you brush.
BUT those things can help mitigate the problems even if not eliminate them.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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amyable
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| Posted: July 27 2009 at 3:34pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
| And I can't tell you how annoyed I get at a dentist that won't listen to that |
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*Luckily* this dentist so far seems to be good that way - he asked about his eating habits (but I did not offer than he is still nursing or nursing at night) and after hearing that he eats OK said it's likely something congenital - like maybe during pregnancy I had a high stress time or illness when the teeth were being formed.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Michaela
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| Posted: July 27 2009 at 3:34pm | IP Logged
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Last fall, I remember posting about Teresa's teeth. At the time, our children's dentist said they wouldn't even see her until she was 3. I told them she wouldn't have any teeth left by then! Her upper teeth are desolving -- they are nubs now.
We found a pediatric dentist who will see children as young as 1yo. I wish we would have found her sooner...we may have been able to prevent most of this. She has her first dental appt on Thursday. I am so depressed about it. Friends always tell me it's not because of the nursing rather heredity. I don't believe that now. The pattern of decay is where her tongue doesn't protect her teeth when she nurses -- molars and upper teeth, especially the front four. She is my longest nurser. The question always is "Do you lay her down with a bottle?" No, but she does nurse to sleep and night nurse....no difference.
ETA: It was actually in January that I posted about this: teeth/night nursing
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Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: July 27 2009 at 4:01pm | IP Logged
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Here's a decent article about dental caries in young children from LLLI
Quote:
Components present in human milk play a protective role. Immune factors such as Secretory IgA and IgG can slow the growth of the specific types of streptococcus mutans colonizing the child's mouth (21, 22). Lactoferrin in mothers' milk has a bacteriocidal effect (destroying bacteria), as well (6). Dr. Pamela Erickson studied the decay potential of various liquids (23, 24). Water had a decay potential of 0.00 and a 10 percent sucrose solution had a decay potential of 1.00. Human milk had a decay potential of 0.01, close to that of plain water. Various formulas differed in their ability to lower the pH, to support the growth of S. mutans, and to dissolve tooth enamel. Human milk did not lower the pH in plaque (the sticky usually colorless film on teeth that is formed by and harbors bacteria), and did not support the growth of S. mutans. Additionally, calcium and phosphorus in human milk were actually deposited on the tooth enamel. However, when 10 percent sucrose was added to human milk, the decay potential rose to 1.30. It was concluded that human milk by itself is not cariogenic.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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wahoo92
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| Posted: July 27 2009 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
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I just took my 12.5 month old to the dentist for this very thing, so I'll let you know what she said. My first three, 10, 7, and 5, have never had any cavities or other dental issues. All have waited until they were three to have their first cleaning which was with my dentist (who won't see them until they are three). The pedsmd always peeks in their mouths at their infant checks and we brush/floss faithfully, so I was fine with that.
However, Evelyn has some uneven pigmentation of her top front teeth, which I pointed out at her one year check. Her bottom two are okay. He couldn't really answer my questions and thought it was a little odd, so off to the peds dentist we went.
She said that she has a mild case of enamel hypoplasia, which in layman's terms means that the enamel is not completely formed on her teeth. Apparently the enamel development occurs during the third trimester when the top front teeth and six year molars are forming, so they are the most likely to be affected. She said that anything from a cold virus to added stress could have been the cause, impossible to know.
The only thing to do is to brush really well and go for frequent follow ups every six months. There is one area where the enamel has chipped on her front tooth already. I guess a worse case scenario is caps or having to pull the teeth. Hopefully, preventative care will be enough. I was unclear if this is also going to be a problem for her adult teeth as well or not. I'll have to get a better explanation the next time. I hope this information helps.
Sarah
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Ellie,11, Madeline, 8, Lucy, 5, Evelyn, 1
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RA's Mom
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| Posted: July 27 2009 at 10:27pm | IP Logged
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Soon after my daughter was born I heard this story at a La Leche League meeting: A mom whose toddler's teeth were decaying. She had to shop around for a dentist who didn't blame it on nursing but the one she liked said you need three things for decay to form (1) teeth (2) food, any food (3) bacteria. This dentist recommended xylitol drops to inhibit bacteria and told the parents not to brush the child's teeth because she was pretty traumatized with mouth pain but just to give her the drops after every meal.
Another interesting thing I read recently (in Reader's Digest but anyway) is that parents should be careful about sharing utensils with small children because this transfers the adult bacteria into the their little mouths. That was kind of a wake up for me because I'm not always that careful about sharing germs with my daughter, since we're so close and I figure I'm destined to catch whatever she has and vice versa.
Night nursing is not the equivalent bed bottle. As mentioned in previous posts its not as sugary and has some inherent antibacterials. But it is food...
I've wondered for a longtime whether I needed to night wean my daughter (whose second birthday is next week) so we could always brush with xylitol toothpaste after eating. She rarely, rarely falls asleep any other way though and I can't resist her automatic pleas in the night. That said she's nursing less and spending the whole night in her own railed twin where I join her at bedtime and if she needs me at night. So we're progressing toward weaning and I'm happy with it.
If I had confirmed decay I'd probably be more motivated to work on limiting nursing to before brushing times, but I think you need to continue to look at weaning holistically, with dental concerns as one factor in the decision (and process) of doing what's right for you and your little one.
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monique
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| Posted: Aug 22 2009 at 6:07pm | IP Logged
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I just noticed some decay on my 2 yo's front teeth! I came here to see what other mother's have to say about this. I will call our dentist on Monday but I can't imagine finding a dentist that will deal with this in Wyoming! I can't believe how quickly this came about. I didn't brush his teeth last night because he fell asleep downstairs watching a movie with his brothers. The night before last that was not on his teeth! None of my other children even have a cavity! We are pretty good about eating whole foods also so I guess it's the bacteria. I wonder where it came from?
More information for other mother's dealing with dental caries if they are interested.
Dr. Brian Palmer has a great web site that talks about dental caries. From his web site:
3) - HBM is not cariogenic UNLESS another carbohydrate source is available for bacterial fermentation.
Dr. Brian Palmer
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Monique
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DeAnn M
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| Posted: Aug 26 2009 at 10:13am | IP Logged
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Just a quick note. My older two kids...especially the oldest have had major tooth decay issues. We found a great dentist who reassured me that most of this happened as a result of the combination of Fevers, ear infections and antibiotics. I don't know the science behind it all but he said that one or all of these issues can certainly affect the enamel and decay of teeth. After the first three kids, I learned more about more natural remedies for ear infections and we rarely use antibiotics anymore.
Don't feel guilty. It's just one of those things. We finally got most of my oldest's tooth issues squared away, then he broke his two front teeth goofing around with his brother!! He'll have fake teeth for the rest of his life. Oh well!
Blessings,
DeAnn
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Babies and tooth decay (theirs)
