Seeking Advise About Rotting Teeth in 2 Year Old

Hi Gylan,

Hi G. I work at a dental office although we do not specialtize in children we do treat 4 year olds and up. From my experience most of the children with decayed teeth is caused by them going to bed with out cleaning/brushing or wiping their teeth. We usualy refer these patients to the pediatric dentist, However it varies from patient to patient there are children that will allow for a doctor to see them with just local anesthesia or and with Nitrous Oxide, I personally would not let them use a papoose board on my child just because of my personal experience as a child. But I would certainly try Nitrous along with local anesthesia.

When my son was 14 months we had to take hime off the bottle for one of the reasons being possibly rotting teeth. He took his bottles in bed while laying down and he would be sucking it down while sleeping. There is a lot of sugar in formula and breastmilk. My pediatrition told me that while sleeping all the sugar settles and starts to rot thier teeth. Also while laying down and drinking my son developed ear infections. Also the sugar from breastnilk could be thining the enamel. It will be a hard habit to break but worth it in the end.

Hi G.,
Please look at my profile for my experience in this area. Baby teeth aren't nearly as strong as permanent teeth and CAN be a little more prone to tooth decay. As for using general anesthesia for a 2 yr old, it is the easiest and fastest way to do dental work. They can also get all the dental work done in one appointment. The alternative for most 2 yr olds in a papoose board. I don't recommend restraining children as it can cause a life long fear of the dentist. As to the possible cause, breast milk has been proven in studies to be MORE cariogenic than cow's milk. There will be people who might argue, but the ADA has not changed it's stance to date. What ever you do, PLEASE don't leave the decay untreated. The baby teeth are there for a reason and decay can cause alot of health problems, including heart problems. They taught my hubby in dental school that parents who allow their children's decay to go untreated are guilty of child neglect and indangerment. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. If I don't know the answer I will get it.
Sincerely,
L.

PS Make sure you are brushing your darling daughter's teeth at least twice a day.

Here are some links to ADA info on breastmilk:
http://www.ada.org/public/media/releases/0701_release01.asp
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/decay_childhood.asp

At 2 years old she should be in her own bed, and for sure not nursing. I think nursing all night long could for sure be the cause to rotting teeth. The milk pools in the back of the mouth esp. when they fall asleep. Time to cut the umbilical cord and give whole milk from a cup. After 13-14 months old, nursing is not offering much of if any nutritional value. Teach your child to be a independent 2 year old. The longer the child stays in your bed, believe you me the harder it will be as they get older.
Good luck

Hi G.,

Your post was forwarded to me by another mom friend of mine, since I have experienced what you are going through. My son, who's now 2.5 years old, has been night nursing since he was born. We've recently cut way down on night nursing, as I am convinced that it led to cavities in almost all his upper teeth. I had a false sense of security, as the children of other moms who night nurse didn't get cavities. But it happens to some children who night nurse (weaker enamel). We also could have been more consistent with brushing his teeth. After getting four opinions (including my cousin's who is a dentist), we knew that our son had to have 4 crowns and a few fillings on his upper teeth. The procedure was done under general anesthesia (GA). Like you, I was apprehensive about GA, but afterward I was SO glad that his teeth were fixed under it. Two pediatic dentists I visited used GA, one at a surgery center (highly, highly recommend) and one in the office. With a surgery center, you have the peace of mind of having a medical team standing by in case something goes awry (very slim chance); we wouldn't have done it any other way, and I was happy our pediatric dentist did the procedure at a reputable surgery center. The third dentist did not use or believe in GA, and I witnessed a 2-year-old boy being pinned down on a table by 4 people to administer some numbing medication. The procedure hadn't even started, and he was screaming his head off; I could see the fear in his eyes, and it was horrific to watch. Even one of the dentists AT THIS PRACTICE whispered to me, "I'd use a surgery center at his young age, if I were you." With young children like ours, GA is the way to go; yes, there is a very, very slight risk, but the chance of our son being traumatized by having the procedure done while awake was much greater. The beauty of GA is that your child won't even remember having the procedure done, and it is over fairly quickly. He/she won't be traumatized by going to the dentist as this little boy was! My son did beautifully under GA and recovered quickly; he was very happy when we went for his post-exam and did not fear going to the dentist. His 4 crowns look really nice, and I am SO glad we did it this way. Please let me know if you have any questions or even wish to talk on the phone.

A. L.

As a dentist i can tell you when the enamel is soft (enameleogensis imperfecta)is one reason for gross deccay but the culprit is the nursing through out the night. Breast milk, formula or cow milk all breakdown and turn acidic in the mouth which inturn "eats" the enamel. your daughter should be bushing her teeth after her last milk b4 bed. as a mom of 2 i know they want their milk sometimes in the middle of the night and you have no choice but to give it to them- what i do is make sure that they at least have some water afterwards to kind of rinse it out. but the best way to care for teeth is last milk, brush and nor more milk!(easier said than done). now you best keep those molars as long as possible, not only for chewing but they maintain the space needed for her permenant teeth. as a practincing dentists for the past 13 years, i have seen many cases of "milk bottle caries" if you take action now (stop the middle of the night feedings,good oral hygiene, regular dental visits) her mouth will be healthy. as for treatment, sedation is safe as long as it is a PEDIATRIC DENTIST THAT IS LICENSED TO SEDATE.

How do you eat? Have you tested your own ph levels? If you are not eating balanced, your body may be acidic. If all she is doing is breast feeding then check yourself out. She may be your canary. Ph testing strips are easy to see if you need to change your eating habits. Make sure that when you test your saliva that all you've had for 2 hours is water with nothing in it. 7 is ideal, but 6.6 -6.8 is definitely not going to be causing this sort of situation.

I am an energy healer, and could help you balance that number much quicker than with just changing eating habits alone, in the meantime you would want to drink the juice of a lemon every day to help get you balanced as quick as possible. Unsweetened lemonaide may be a good start for your daughter also.

Check out http://www.quantumtouch.com and http://www.emofree.com
You can do these techniques for yourself and your loved ones very easily.
Love, L.

I have had two children with moderate to severe tooth decay at a young age. It is so hard when you know you have done your best. I would strongly recommend using the white (enamel) fillings. Not for cosmetic reasons but because they bond to the teeth so that decay cannot form around or under the filling. Silver fillings do not bond to the tooth, they just sit in the hole drilled into the tooth. A larger hole has to be drilled for silver fillings, leaving less of the natural tooth, this can leave the tooth weakened. Silver or amalgam fillings can also crack from children grinding their teeth. They also expand and contract which can leave room for decay. My daughters have had almost all of their amalgam (silver) fillings replaced due to them cracking or loosening and decay forming around/under them. The only thing worse than having to watch them go through all that dental work was having them go through it twice! Make sure you are very comfortable with your child's dentist and that they are competent and do a good job. I know it can be much more expensive, but enamel fillings are worth it.

I understand and respect the way you are raising you child. I would urge you to consider using a floride rinse and the zylitol products recommended by others. My one daughter has soft enamel and no amount of brushing alone helped keep her cavity free. You will definately want to floss every day. They also make floride treated flossers. I didn't like the idea of using these products but I tried them and they work.

Just one more thought - our dentist told us that tooth decay (more precisely the bacteria that cause it) can be contracted like a cold or flu. It can spread from one family member to another by sharing food and drinks. Studies have shown that children often have the same amount of decay as their main care giver. She suggested limiting sharing of food and drinks so we didn't pass it back and forth. Also, after they clean out the decay from her teeth, you will have an easier time keeping her cavity free. You'll want to have her rinse or drink water before she falls asleep and after she nurses. Maybe you could keep a sippy of water next to your bed.

Best of luck to you and I hope her next 6 mo. check is cavity free!

My son also got a cavity from night nursing. We are also an attachment parenting family. As upset as I was that he needed dental work, if I had to go back, I wouldn't do anything differently. I finally asked myself what is more important, one baby tooth or my son's emotional security? What led us to attachment parenting was the fact that he was so hard to soothe. All the bedtime advice I'd been hearing for years just didn't work for him. Nursing him to sleep and keeping him in bed with us was an experience I will always treasure, and though he may not remember it, it will help him to grow up to be a peaceful and confident adult.

I know the idea of your daughter being sedated is deeply troubling. Not every child that is nursed during the night develops tooth decay. I'm so sorry your family is going through this. Just remember that the commitment you made to attachment parenting was the right one.

Unfortunately, breastfeeding thoughout the night really could be contributing to the tooth decay.

Some children do have softer enamel... I have a niece who can't eat gummy things or have sweetened drinks because of the enamel on her teeth.

The anastesia does carry some risk, but that is true even for adults. The Doctor will monitor her very carefully and she should be ok. The same niece who has the soft enamel was born with a cleft palate and had to have surgery when she was small. They put her under too and she did just fine.

hello G.,
in regards to your question about your 23 month old daughter's teeth... I used to work in a pediatric dental office a little bit over 5 years. I learned that weaning your child wether its from the breast or bottle and transition him or her to a sippy cup is best. At 2 years old they should be on a sippy cup by now, not nursing. The tooth decay which we call "baby bottle decay" IS causing the rotting molars. The dr. I used to work for used to see majority of our patients with baby bottle decay because either the parents or grandparents lets them fall asleep with a bottle or a sippy cup while the milk/juice is sitting in their mouths. It very unfortunate that she already has bottle decay. As for sedation (putting her under) I don't think there is any need for that. If your child could lay there (even with a papoose board holding her) and all she is doing is crying then honestly there is no need to sedate her. They do offer anesthetia where they will numb one side of her jaw but she will remain awake. There are offices that do sedate and some offices that only give anesthetics and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). The only time I would sedate a child is only, ONLY if they are out of control and it causes the dr. to not be able to work on the patient. The office I worked out of in Milpitas was that we never seadated the child only gave them anesthetic and they were fine. Once her treatment is completed, you must know that it is time to wean her from the breast/ bottle. The dr. had once told a patient's mom that if bottle doesn't work keep offering the sippy cup to child BUT with water (if he/she needs it before bed time) Now that I have given you my 2 sense I hope everything will work out for you. Also keep in mind if you are not so sure with sedating your child, there are other pediatric offices that give the anesthetic to numb area. Good luck.

It could be from the nursing all night long & the milk sitting on your daughter's teeth or it could just be her teeth. Could be a combo of the two....who knows. What's important is that you take care of it. I know some people may be of the mindset that they're baby teeth so it's not a huge deal but this could also lead into gum problems so I recommend you take care of ASAP. Are you seeing a pediatric dentist? When my oldest son was almost 4, he needed tubes & had anethesia. He did fine but he was 4 so he was more mature & better able to understand what would happen. When he woke up from the anethesia, he was a bit confused & disoriented but that was short-lived. Make sure you do your research as to what to expect for any side effetcs, or how she'll react when she's coming off the anethesia. Try to find some books about going to the dentist or having surgery. Usbourne Books makes great, kid-appropriate stories about these sorts of events. It may be hard, tho, cuz at 2 who knows how much she's actually understanding. While talking to her about it, she may seem to understand but it could be kinda abstract for her. This could be quite pricey, too, so hopefully, your dental insurance will cover. If not, I'd look into possibly changing your coverage & find one that will cover most or all of it. I would also suggest you stop the night nursing so that there's no further damage to her teeth & gums. As I'm sure you know, she's not nursing for nourishment at this age. She can still get the love & affection by cuddling w/you or your husband. Good luck!

When I was in the hospital they give literature about putting your child to sleep with a bottle, it rots the teeth. So, I would say that the all night breast feedings could likely be the cause of the rotting teeth. If you can't think of any other reason. I am not a doctor, so I cannot 100 % say. I would seek a second opinion about getting dental work done. Prehaps a dentist that specialises in children.

Hi there,

I just thought I'd let you know that when I was a child, all four of my front, top teeth had to be capped (silver caps) due to lack of enamel. They did this to protect my permanent teeth underneath. Back in 1973 $500 was a lot to spend, especially for capping baby teeth, but luckily my Mom listened to the dentist and went ahead with it. It entailed a trip to Children's Hospital and general anesthesia. It was so worth it as I have all my own permanent teeth which are white, and straight, and teeth to be proud of. So if you're even questioning it, get a second opinion, but don't let your daughter's permanent teeth suffer.

My lack of enamel was caused from going to bed with a bottle. This was common in the early 70's. The acid from the milk sitting in my mouth ate away at the enamel. I'm sure your dentist can tell you if the breastfeeding through the night is causing it. I suppose if your daughter sleeps next to you nursing throughout the entire night, it's a possibility, but again, your dentist should know.

Good luck to you! I'm sure it will all work out well!

I am a dental hygienist and also have 2 children. It is very important to get the cavities taken care of because if they are back teeth she will have them for several years to come. My son fell and broke 2 teeth when he was 3 and we used valium to sedate him. Worked great, he was just really groggy. I would also check in to a dentist that has a laser. We have one here in our office and its great. No shots, no drill...our patients love it. Once you get the cavities taken care of you need to evaluate why she got these cavities in the first place. You need to be brushing her teeth at least twice a day and also flossing at night before she goes to bed. I use the flossers on my kids teeth (age 4 and 18 months) and they are really easy to use...that will prevent her from getting cavities in between her teeth. 23 month old children are old enough to go all night without eating so there is no reason you need to be nursing her at night. Breastmilk has sugars in it just like regular milk and will decay her teeth. She should also be on daily fluoride drops or tabs (depending on how much fluoride is already in your water...ask your pediatrician or dentist)...this will help his permanent teeth to be stronger and more resistant to decay. Fluoride is a naturally occuring ion found in the soil. You want to avoid sticky foods (dried fruit, fruit snacks), and avoid refined carbohydrates and of course no soda. Juice should be limited to 4oz per day. Is she still using a bottle? If so she should be either using a cup or sippy cup...preferably a cup or one of those sippy cups with a straw (a straw limits the amount of milk/juice that comes in contact with the teeth). She should also not be going to bed with anything but water. There is a product called Xylitol (a natually occuring sugar) that is great to use with kids...you can find it in gum and toothpaste and other products like wipes to wipe on babies gums and teeth (online check for Spry products, they're great). Cavities are caused by a specific type of bacteria. Bacteria eat sugar. Xylitol is a 5 carbon sugar that the bacteria eat, they are not able to digest 5 carbon sugars so they die. So products with xylitol are the best you can use. Good luck! Let me know how it turns out...If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me

We also live the Waldorf lifestyle and had something similar with my (now 6). It is called milk rot. It is from nursing during the night or while falling to sleep and the milk sits in their mouth and creates cavities and the teeth can rot. We gradually had my son drink water at night and that helped. They can also seal the teeth to help with the weak enamel. My other son had to have a root canal done when he was 4 because he fell and got an infection in a tooth that later died. Anyway, I took him to a child dentist and he did fine. We don't do TV so with a screen above the chair he got to watch a cartoon movie but due to his rapt attention she didn't have to use anything other than novacaine. Two is pretty young so I don't know if it would work but I would definately reccommend a pediatric dentist. Hope that helps.

Hi G.,
Although my two kids have never had to be sedated during their filling procedures at the dentist, I am sure your doctor is right in proposing this. Your little girl is simply too young to tolerate such a lenghty procedure. I'm not sure what kind of drug he/she wants to prescribe but I know alot of dental offices when treating young children will use nitrous oxide gas in combination with oxygen to soothe and relax the child. This is a very safe and effective form of sedation used in many offices. I would ask many questions of your doctor if you are unsure of anything he/she proposes. You absoluetly must have your baby girl's teeth restored! I'm sure your Dr. already told you how important it is that baby teeth be restored, these are needed to hold the space for her permanent teeth, as well as act as guides for the grown up teeth during eruption. Also she needs these baby teeth of hers to chew, speak, and show off in her pretty smile of course! Also, you are right in suspecting that night time nursing might be causing these cavities. All night, the plaque that is constantly forming on her teeth, (as it does everyone) is feeding on the sugar in the breastmilk that is left all over her teeth and that bacteria converts the sugar to acid and guess what happens to enamel that is being attacked by acid? Yep, tooth decay- cavities. My suggestion is that you wean her from all night long feeding on demand. Make sure her pretty little teeth are clean before bed and keep them that way all through the night. Try maybe a bottle of warm water when she wakes up at night wanting to nurse. (I know this will NOT be easy!) But think of her teeth. Good luck and remember to get as much info. as possible from your daughter's dentist regarding all this! E.

Yes, breastfeeding through the night is no different than sucking on a bottle with juice. Breast milk is loaded with sugar. However, genetics plays a huge role in early tooth decay. From my own experience, it seems very hit or miss (and little to do with eating/drinking habits) which children end up with a mouthful of cavitites. My son was breastfed and drank a bottle at night until he was 3 and has never had a cavitiy in his life (he is now 7). My friends daughter had 7 cavities ( at age 3) and stopped all bottle and breast at night very early on and was exposed to very little sugar.
My son was also sedated (for other medical reasons), it was very scarey to me. They put a mask over them and they inhale until they pass out. It is very disturbing to watch, but is pretty safe. They are very groggy and disoriented when they awake. My advice is make sure they are with a pediatric dentist (maybe get a second opinion) and are in good hands. Good Luck.

Hello. I am a dental hygienist so I have some knowledge about the subject of cavities. You are probably right about the breastfeeding being the cause of the decay. Many people think sugar is the only cause of cavities and this is not true. The bacteria that cause cavities can and do metabolize all types of fermentable carbohydrates (i.e. not only sucrose aka "sugar" but also the carbohydrates which make up starchy foods and milk products). Breastmilk is high in the carbohydrate lactose (which is made up of galactose and glucose) and the bad bacteria can metabolize it to produce the acids which break down tooth material. Similar to why we tell people not to put their baby to bed with a bottle, I would recommend that you find a way to stop the nighttime breastfeeding. Offer her a bottle with water in it or a pacifier if necessary. Are you using fluoride toothpaste yet? If not, consider teaching her how to spit and then use the tiniest amount to brush her teeth. Her enamel would become stronger with a little topical fluoride through the toothpaste. You may be concerned about health risks of fluoride, but I think the benefits far outweigh the risks. I hope this helps you. Sorry I don't have much advice about her anesthesia, etc. If you are being seen by a general dentist, I would suggest taking her to a pediatric dentist for sure.

My youngest son slept with me and nursed through the night. He wound up with so many rotten teeth that he had to have surgery in the hospital for over 2 hrs. His teeth are fine now--he is eleven, but what a horrible experience that was! The anesthesia was O.K., but the whole experience was really hard on him and on me. As nice as it is, I wouldn't recommend breastfeeding throughout the night!
M. M.

Hi G.! I have the same problem with my 17 mo. old baby girl and I had just recently requested for some opinions here at Mamasource also. My dtr. will be going for her dental surgery on April 29 to put crowns on her 4 front decayed teeth. They will have to use general anesthesia on her and it will be done in the hospital...At first, that idea freaked me out! But after talking to a lot of people and of course to the dentist..it gave us some reassurance that my baby will be fine. I know that there will be a lot of risks involve but I will just have to trust the dentist and we will certainly pray for her fast recovery. We went for a second opinion and the dentist pretty much said the same thing...BUT, this second dentist was planning to do the procedure in his dental clinic instead of the hospital. That made me more uncomfortable because if an emergency happened I do not know how they will respond to the situation. Are they eqipped with defibrillators or emergency meds? Or do they call 911 if something like that happens?
My co-worker had an experience with conscious sedation done in the clinic only and also in the hospital under general anesthesia. Her experience in the clinic was very frightening because of the lack of medical eqpmnt. there and while her dtr. was already sedated the dentist was still seeing other pts. in between the procedure!!!! That was very unsafe!!! She reported this and the dentist lost her license and she also found out that some of the staff there didn't have any CPR license (not even sure if any of them had ACLS license!). Meanwhile, her experience in the hospital was very quick (30 mins. only) and safe because of all the med eqpmnt available and not to mention the trained staff and doctors. So, my biggest advice to you is do it in the hospital instead of in the dental clinic for safety issues.

I am still breastfeeding my dtr. Her dentist said that her cavities may be genetic and breastfeeding might be contributing to her dental problems. So, I'm trying my best to wean her off at night. They also told me to use Spiffies wipes with xylitol (anti-bacterial) to clean her gums and teeth and to prevent more decays. You can buy that at LOngs drugstores.

Goodluck and we will also pray for your child's safety!

D. =)

It's been proven that breast milk does not cause rotting teeth, although for a while, some people were hypothesizing that the natural sugars in breast milk were bad for teeth. (The cynic in me wants to say that the formula companies are doing as much as they can to make breast feeding look as bad and as inconvenient and unhealthy as they can. I've seen numerous ads suggesting that the formula is as or more beneficial than breast milk. I wonder how they can argue with tens of thousands of years of human civilizations. We would not have survived if our milk was not fit for our offspring!) As to feeding throughout the night, it would really depend on what that entails. A toddler with a bottle in their mouth all night (as if they were sucking thumbs or fingers) can cause "bottle-mouth" and result in decay from the constant exposure to bacteria on the nipple and the contents of the bottle. I would assume that that could also be possible with the breast. However if you daughter is having a meal, and then dropping off of the breast, while her mouth won't be perfectly clean and bacteria free, the natural salivation process will do much to clean her mouth and it shouldn't be a big problem. As to the weak enamel, that can be developmental, due to your daughter's bite and how her teeth contact when she is chewing solid foods, or even hereditary/genetic. There may not be anything you can do about the weak enamel that you are not already doing. I have had experience with a toddler requiring anesthesia. My daughter has had two procedures requiring anesthesia. While there are risks to this procedure, the anestheticians used usually specialize in pediatrics and are experienced in comforting the child while the gas is being administered. They usually come out of it fairly quickly, although they are groggy and cranky and need lots of cuddles and extra understanding. Even though her baby teeth will eventually fall out, leaving them in with decay can cause infections in the tooth pulp and the bone, and if decay or infection are left unchecked, even more severe health problems can arise. Like you, I am for raising children as naturally as possible. My daughter was breast fed until two, and at home we provide a well balanced variety of organic foods, with treats being a "once in a while" item, and use natural and organic health and hygiene products. I like as little medical intervention as possible. But for some of the health complications that arose with our little one, there was really no alternative. Best of luck with whatever you choose!

When I was 3 I had one of my molars crowned. I think it is more genetic make-up than something my mom did wrong. Some people are more prone to plaque build-up, etc. Please do not stop nursing because of this. I nursed both of my children through the night and they do not have cavities. Sometimes, in spite of our best intentions, our children still get cavities, gain weight, get sick, etc. Good-luck.

Hi G.,

There is the mistaken thought out there for many that nighttime nursing can cause these types of issues. This is, in fact, not true. Breastmilk contains special bacteria that actually protect from bad bacteria. Also, is is not common for breastmilk to pool in the mouth while baby is sleeping. Typically, unless baby is actively nursing, milk isn't flowing. So, breastmilk is not the issue.

Formula and juice bottles however, cause these types of problems all the time from the sugars and bacteria in the liquid that actively work to breakdown the enamel. That is why it is typically called baby bottle mouth. :)

My youngest son has been put under 4 times already for dental procedures. It is scary for us but the kids typically do really well. No one likes to see their child put under...it really sucks. The people who work with children needing to go through this are usually very good. Do your research and make sure you are comfortable with who is treating your child.

Warmly,
J. Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

G.

You might want to have your daughter checked for celiac disease. It is an intolerance to gluten, found in wheat, oats, barley, ect. One of the side effects of the disease if a person continues to eat gluten is loss of tooth enamel. I have celiac disease and it is becoming more and more common. 1 in 133 people will be diagnosed. I would seriously consider having her tested. I gave the same advise to a friend of mine a month ago. She had her daughter tested and it came back positive. There are many other side effects if not treated. Good luck, Jen

http://www.uchicagokidshospital.org/pdf/uch_007937.pdf

G.,
On the question about anesthesia...unfortunately, I've had to put one son under 4 times while a toddler and my second under anesthesia once. We've had ear tubes, elbow dislocation and break and open heart surgery in our house. It never gets easier. It's very difficult to hand your baby over to the anesthesiologist. Most will make it a point to give them the oxygen mask to play with and then they'll play with them to make it not a scary thing when they put it up to their nose and mouth to put them out. In some cases they may also give your child this red medicine while they're still with you that just relaxes them and makes the handoff easier. You'll worry so I won't tell you not to but know that your child is in great hands and they do this stuff ALL THE TIME!! She'll be OK.

On the teeth thing, I just read an article and unfortunately can't find it and it links Vitamin D to healthy teeth..that children with poor dental health made significant improvements when given supplements. Since you're still nursing and breast milk doesn't have much vitamin D, I'd explore that option. This paper also determined that nighttime nursing wasn't a factor for children high enough Vitamin D amounts. We know that this is good for our bones so it makes sense that it would apply to teeth as well. Just thought I'd share..good luck to you.

Hello there,

I do agree that there is no logical reason for your breast fed child to have cavities if you are giving him healthy foods. The only thing I can think of is if he is getting enough Vitamind D and Vitamin C. These two are very important in the growth of healthy teeth so you may want to supplement if you are not doing so already.

In terms of sedation...my son has had two surgeries and he was sedated and he did just fine. Some vomiting after the sedative is common so make sure no solids until the following day after his treatment.

Hope this helps
A.

I have read that Cod liver oil can help ward off cavities or help the body repair small cavities that might be just starting.

When my son was 3, he had a cavity that needed to be filled (it was big!). The dentist used a drug called Versed. This has some sort of memory thing with it where the child won't remember what happened while in the dentist chair. What they didn't tell me was that in 5% of children there is a psychotic reaction. My son when bezerk about half an hour after the procedure. He was completely out of control, wailing and through his body about without regard to hurting himself. It lasted about an hour and a half. The longest hour and a half that I have ever experienced. Then he fell asleep and slept soundly for several hours. When he awoke it was as if nothing had happened. The actual time in the chair went very smoothly. I don't say this to scare you, but just to inform you. I think if I'd known it was a possibility, I would have been better prepared to handle it. I didn't figure it out until after the experience and I did a bunch of research. So at the time, I was freaking out in addition to my son, which of course didn't help him in the least.

As for the cause of the cavity, I don't know if it was related to breastfeeding, but anecdotely, we were also nursing all night, so it seems like it could have been that. He was not getting juice or sugars for the most part during the day. I stopped nursing him at night at that point, and the next cavity he had came when he was six and eating sugar. We continued to breastfeed occasionally during the day for another year.

Good luck with this process.

N.

Possible that it could be due to the "continuous nursing" (my son, now 2, did the same thing til he was about 15 mos old)...but it may not be.
I just thought I'd throw in there that I have a friend with a now 4-year-old, and she had a LOT of cavities at her first dental appt...pretty good nutrition, not a lot of gum or sugary juices, etc. Her dentist said her daughter has a certain condition (don't know the name, sorry) in which the body does not produce enough whatever it is that fights the build up of plaque and cavities. I'm sorry this is so ambiguous, I can't remember the specifics, but what I know is that it is a condition that she cannot help and they're having to do some serious dental work to fix it. You may want to inquire about that from your dentist or doctor just to see, or rule it out.
I also know just from our family and those we know, that dental issues are really very genetic...if you or your husband has kind of a bad dental history, your kiddo may be in store for the same no matter how clean you keep them or foods you keep them away from :(
Good luck!
~K.

P.S. My son had surgery at about 14 mos for an undescended testicle and did just fine "going under" and coming out of it. I won't say it wasn't scary as heck for me and my hubby, but he did just great. If you and your family do okay with anesthesia, chances are great that she'll be fine too.

My understaning is that the lactose (sugar) does cause tooth decay. I know of a 4 year old that had severe tooth decay from drinking milk after brushing her teeth at night. Her mom was advised a horrendous procedure with anetheshia, but she got a second opinion and was told that a sealant would work fine so the little one didn't need the anethesia or the horrendous procedure. Good luck and hang in there!

Nursing does not have anything to do with the rotting teeth, your breast milk is the best thing for your daughter. Although, you may want to begin weaning her of night feeding since the lactose (sugar in the breast milk) may be pooling in her mouth at night, which may be a cause to the problem. Overall, breastfeeding while she is awake should not be a problem since she will be drinking it, and the milk will not be settling in her mouth for long points of time.
The reason why she may have rotting teeth is that it may be genetic, especially since you mentioned that she does not eat sugar, or drink juice. It also could be that food might be getting stuck between her teeth and since her enamel is not very strong, this may be causing the problem as well. As much of a pain as it is, start flossing her teeth twice a day after brushing to remove anything that is stuck between her teeth.
A few natural remedies that can help are:
1. Dandelion greens (found in the produce section of the grocery store); when eaten, it strengthens tooth enamel.
2. Snacks of crunchy food like raw carrots, celery, and apples, massage the gums, which make them healthy and strong.
3. Vitamin C is also important. So, you may want to check to see if she has a vitamin C deficiency. If she does, this could be a cause of the teeth rotting.
4. Vitamin B is another important vitamin for the teeth and gums. Deficiency of B vitamins, especially folic acid can cause weakened gums.

I hope this helps!!

M. *~

I used to be a dental assistant and I remember the dentist I worked for saying something about certain people's saliva containing something that could cause decay. Also, if you don't have enough saliva, this could happen. Sometimes, there is a change in saliva when someone reaches puberty, gets pregnant etc.

I nursed my son all night every night for 2 yrs and no cavities so I don't thinl that is the cause.

I'd say it has something to do with your daughter's make up. Are you brushing often though? Also, have you tried ACT? I'm sure the dentist mentioned that to you but your daughter would have to be able to rinse it out and you don't swallow it.

Breastfeeding 'all night'? That could be a factor in the teeth problems. I understand your desire to follow attachment parenting, but all night for a 2 year old could cause problems for her teeth and more.

We found something simialr in our daughter but not until she was 5. Her back upper molars were turning black. Come to find out there is a possibility that a child can get ear infections without knowing it. That infection can go into the teeth as they are forming and rot them - even before they come out.

Since she is so young, you don't want to pull it, so crowning is the best way to go. For our daughter we sedated her using valum. She was a little groggy, but was constantly monitored and I was with her the whole time.

I found out later that after every breastfeeding or bottle feeding that i was to wash her mouth out with a wash cloth wiping her gums unfortunately my child had bad teeth because i was not informed of this info in time. fortunately when she lost her baby teeth she has beautiful teeth now and no thanks to a dentist. as a mother you will have to make that determination. do you pray if so do so now

G.,
It also depends on how and when she brushes her teeth. Ask the doctor for the red chewable tablets, and they did make a rinse available in the store that is with the listerene,
it also stains the teeth, and tells you were they miss.
She has to brush her teeth at least twice a day. Morning, and night. If she does not like the toothpaste,then she can use the bubblegum flavored stuff. It is not so spicy.
My niece and nephew both went thru this, because my sister in law thought that bottle rot only occurs if you drink milk at bed time, so she gave them koolaid instead. Boy was she wrong. Way to many visits for such young kids if you ask me.
W.

Hi G.,
My just turned 3 year old was sedated and had some teeth work done. The whole process bugged me, so I elected my husband to take him! It went fine, but the big issue afterward (car ride home) was he severely bit his cheek and bled, freaked himself out and made the whole process a SCARY thing to do. Be prepared! They went right back to the dentist and he had to pack the cheek with gauze, etc...

As for the nursing at night, and decay. I have had friends who have nursed all night for years and never had decay issues, and I have had friends who were very diligent about not feeding in the night and brushing and still have plenty of decay issues. It sounds like she has weak enamel. Don't beat yourself up about it, just be vigilant on brushing!

good luck!

I would not force her into weaning from the breast or your bed. I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Jack Newman speak and I remember in his talk, he was saying the benefits of nursing outweigh the possibility (I emphasize possibility) that the night nursings causes tooth decay. You can visit his website at drjacknewman.com.
Of course you will get a lot of varied feedback regarding this matter because some people don't support bf'ing and/or co-sleeping much at all so stick to what you are most comfortable with. I would not stop nursing though if it was me. That breastmilk is really the best nutritional thing you can give your child and good for you for sticking to no juice. we don't do juice either.

Have you started brushing nightly though? If not, look into resources to help you start that and then of course choosing a toothpaste.

We, too, were shocked when our 2.5 year old had, as I now call "tiny little rotten teeth". His diet consists of limited sugars, milk, etc. and I'm that mom that made my kids babyfood. I also breasfed him exclusively until we intro'd solids and throughout the night until he was 2. The dentist believes 100% that the nursing is what made this happen to his teeth, although I am still skeptical. I did it with my older one without the same results. Also, I know TONS of moms who did the same thing without the same results. We did some research and found that various meds could also cause rotten little teeth (my littlest guy has asthma and is on meds for it), though the dentist is STILL convinced it is due to breastfeeding. I spoke with a friend who is a La Leche League rep and she said that their stance is that you can wipe your child's mouth out with a washcloth after nursing in the middle of the night, if you want. Another breasfeeding guru told me to have your child switch sides (their physical side if they're laying down, not necessarily your breast), to help the saliva pool in one area and not just the same spot in the mouth. Regardless, it is something that's strange and I'm not convinced it's necessarily due to breastfeeding; I think it's a combination of genes, diet, etc. because truly, if you think about it, and it was totally caused by breastfeeding, then every single toddler in the history of the world until formula was created would have no teeth because they'd all have been rotten. It just doesn't make sense to me, although I did feel guilty at first (ahhh!!! my bosoms did this to my child!!!). So, I'd just say that keep up with the nursing if you want to. And, as far as the anesthesia goes, she'll be fine. Our little guy did textbook perfect with the situation, it was really daddy who had a tougher time with the whole thing! We had an early a.m. appt., since he's so young and couldn't eat before-hand, and by 3 p.m., we'd all been home for several hours and had napped and were back to normal. Plus, he now has the whitest teeth in the history of the toddler world. OK, maybe they're capped and fake, but it looks better than rotten ones! Good luck, you'll both do great and keep up with the nursing if that's what is right for you guys!

I have nursed and currently nursing a 17 mo old. I nursed my two oldest until 2 1/2 when they self weened themselves. I did stop nursing in the middle of the night when there teeth started to come it. I was told by my babies doctor that bottles or nursing in the middle of the night can lead to teeth problems because of the milk on sitting on their teeth all night. Good luck.. There is alot of talk about drinking bottle water and not getting floride for the teeth. Because the population at large is drinking bottled water instead of tap no the children are showing teeth decay when there parents or grandparents did have it. Personally I dont think there is much difference between bottled water and tap...I think some companies just fill water bottles and sell it.... but if you buy a waterfilter to filter tap water you take out the chemicals from the water but the floride is still there.

My son had to be sedated for dental work when he was about two, he broke one of his front teeth. The dentist needed to clean the root and cap the tooth. They sedated him to do the work. They will weigh your child, and figure out how much medicine (it's a liquid, similar to tylenol) based on weight and then administer the dosage. It will make your little one sleepy and they will eventually fall asleep. It's a painless process for both your child and you. I really hope that this helps.

My ds (who's 6) had surgery to repair a shortened frenulum which was impairing his speech when he was 27 months old. He was knocked out but handled it well and had no adverse problems.

Also, I have nursed all four of my kids , practicing attachment parenting & co-sleeping as well and, so far, only one has had tooth issues which sound very similar to your daughters. Please don't blame yourself & go to another dentist for a second opinion, I love our pediatric dentist (here in Roseville). My ds (8) had his permanent molars come in with little on no enamel (called hypocalified). We had to wait for them to come in entirely before fixing them. We opted to have it done in a surgical center as an outpatient (I am surprised your dentist didn't suggest this to you. It is my understanding that if the enamel is not thick, there is a strong possibility that your dd's teeth will not numb (and will feel the whole procedure.)
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
-T.

Hi G.

I have a 21/2 yr old. She had a hole on her front tooth and it was brown also. I took her to a dentist and he said that her tooth was rotting and we have to put a cap on it, (same things you are going thru). I did take her to another denist and she had informed me that her enamel did not form right and also is not strong on that tooth. She loves that dentist and they were able to just fill the tooth with out any DRUGS. We just have to keep a eye on it and be careful with what she eats on that side. You know for a 2 yr old that is not easy. =+)

I just wanted to let you know what I went thru and if you find a great dentist that she likes,and the dentist that takes the TIME with her you might just get away with not having any use of drugs or caping it. Keep your faith up. It is not anything you are doing, My daughter also still drinks milk from a sippy cup at night and the rest of the teeth are great. Just make sure (and I know you are because this is a scary thing to find out)to brush her teeth at least 2 times is not 3 times a day.

If one tooth enamel is soft there can be a couple more (MAYBE)Now as a mom I am always looking at her teeth. LOL

Keep your faith and I will pray for you =+)

J. V

From what I had heard, yes it could probably be from breastfeeding all night. My son also has a mouth full of dental work and he had a bottle and cup in bed for a long time. The Peds doc told me that when they fall asleep that milk sits in the back of their mouth and they don't actually swallow it.
My dentist also told me that it is somewhat hereditry based also and my husband said the same thing happened to him.

Keep up on the dentist visits, brush well and it will get better, my sons did and that was after, two root canals, and a crown and a mouth full of "silver stars" as he called his fillings.

Good Luck

My daughter had the same problem with soft enamel, they felt it was partly from me having toxemia, but also from having a bottle to go to sleep with (nursing throughout the night) it created bacteria that destroyed the enamel.
I found a pediatric dentist that didn't used anesthesia, but did use some novacaine for painful procedures. She did do a lot of crying but it was more from fear of the noises and after each visit gave her dentist a big hug before she left.
My daughter is now 34, has beautiful teeth and has no fear of the dentist.

Hi G.,

I had the same situation with my 4 year old. His first visit revealed 6 cavities even though we are really careful about brushing his teeth, etc. The doctor revealed his caps for 2 teeth, fillings for the rest with sedation for the process. I decided to get a second opinion even though I had to pay for the consultation because I had already used up my 2 consultations per year and the second dentist office, recommended fillings and caps but did not use sedation and didn't feel the need for it regardless of age. I was a bit nervous initially but the whole process took 20 minutes and it worked out better. It always helps to get a second opinion if you're not comfortable with what the dentist first suggests. You can always call different offices and ask if they sedate toddlers for fillings/caps, etc. Hope this helps!

~N.

Hi! We went through this and I have some information for you. First of all, there are several options to choose from when having your kid's teeth fixed, and what you choose depends on the kid, how she responds to the dentist and to sedation, etc. We went with general anesthesia with our 2-year-old because he is very strong willed and we knew he would be devastatingly upset to be restrained, also we knew he would keep fighting the whole time and it would be traumatic for everyone involved. Oh, and many medications have a paradoxical effect for him (i.e. Benadryl makes him hyper) so we weren't sure how well sedation would work for him. But if your daughter is mellow, sedation might work just as well. Under sedation (but not general) might mean several visits to get everything done. Seek as many opinions on this as you feel you need.

General anesthesia went like this: Our dentist uses an anesthesiologist from Childrens Hospital (and I would not be comfortable with anyone else.) The anesth came into the waiting room and squirted some Versed up our son's nose. It burned and he cried a bit, but then he got really "drunk" and happy. We carried him to the chair, his dentist talked to him sweetly and stroked his face while putting him under, and I went to cry in the waiting room while they worked on him. He was fine but coming out of anesthesia is tough on little kids--they cry and moan and thrash around for a while. It was hard on us parents but we eventually got him awake enough to cheer up and everything was fine. It was great to get all his teeth fixed at once. But if I could have avoided general anesth I would.

Your dentist should apply sealant to your daughter's other teeth if she has weak enamel. This can prevent further problems.

Now the great news. There is something you can do to prevent more cavities. Breastfeeding can contribute to cavities, but ONLY IF the sugars in breast milk interact with other solids in the mouth. So if you brush your child's teeth thoroughly before bed, breastfeeding at night shouldn't be a problem. The other thing to know is that cavities are basically caused by an infection--strep mutans lives in the mouth, eats sugars attached to teeth, and damages the enamel. You can control the strep mutans infection by using toothpaste and mouthwash containing XYLITOL. Xylitol supplants the other sugars that would normally feed the bacteria and the bacteria starves. This was all explained to me by my son's dentist and you can also look it up on the internet. Go out and find toothpaste with Xylitol in it (look in the health food store) and use it on the whole family's teeth. We did this and our son has had no further problems in the last year even though I am STILL breastfeeding him to sleep! :-)

As far as fluoride, my opinion and the opinion of our pediatrician is that drinking tap water ought to provide plenty.

Check out www.kellymom.com for more info on breastfeeding at night, etc. Here's a good link: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/tooth-decay.html

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Hi,
I had the same problem with my daughter. She had to have her back two top molars worked on when she was 2, and our pediatric dentist said that because of her age, she would not be able to stay still long enough for them to do the work. So, we went to the hospital here in Roseville where our dentist works to do the sedation. They don't do it in their office, but have the anesthesiologist on the hospital staff there to monitor her sedation, while the dentist works on the teeth. They did the "baby root canals", placed the silver caps, did sealant on some of the other teeth and filled another small hole with a regular filling. Of course, I was a nervous wreck, but she did just fine. She was disoriented and a little scared waking up, but they let us stay there in recovery holding her until she felt better. My pediatric dentist is wonderful, and she says that some kids just have weaker enamel, so they need extra brushing (doing a very good job) and flossing. They haven't given us any fluoride because we live in Roseville and the water is already fluoridated. Anyway, the last time I took my daughter to the dentist, she was 3 1/2, and she had cavities again. This time, they thought she could handle having the work done in the office. They used laughing gas and gave her the anesthetic shots in the mouth, and they have earphones so that she could watch a movie up on the ceiling. She did well, and I was there with her the whole time. I don't think she could have handled any more time (they did 2 fillings), but pediatric dentists are usually very good about working with you and trying to make it as easy as possible on your child. Good luck, and if you do keep night nursing, just try to remember to wipe off the inside of her mouth or have her rinse out, and keep taking good care of her teeth!

My grandson had the same problem when he was that age. The dentist capped all his teeth under anesthesia and he wasn't harmed. I would certainly ask the dentist what procedures he uses in case of a problem and check with the pediatrician that this procedure is satisfactory. My grandson is now thirteen and his second teeth came in fine and he lost his first teeth normally. I believe he does have a cavity or two but other than that his second teeth look fine.

My son had the same issue with his back molars, but it was due to in utero stress. He had to be sedated and it went well. He was a little out of it and groggy for a while when he awoke, but he was fine. They capped them to protect the adult teeth coming in behind the primary ones. Hope this helps.

Hi G.,
I'm a Waldorf mom too. :)
Night nursing will not give your child cavities. Current research has disproven that myth. Formula and bottles will, however.
She may, however, be one of those people with genetically poor teeth. There is not much conclusive research about that, yet, but there seem to be some people who are just predisposed to weak teeth.
As for sedation, talk with the dentist and the anesthesiologist about what would work best for your child and her temperment. See if you can be in the room with her. And if not, why not? I was with my son when he got a hefty cavity worked on under conscious sedation - there was never a question I wouldn't be there. As another mom suggested, make sure the anesthesiologist works at Packard (or some other children's hospital, depending on where you live). Your daughter may just need conscious sedation, or she may need to be put completely out.
Kids have surgery all the time. It is super scary, but they do fine. And she may need the comfort of your breast soon after the procedure.
And do have it taken care of soon. It can affect her permanent teeth and her gum health.
If your dentist is saying it is due to night nursing, seek a second opinion before considering weaning her. Many people, dentists included, are uncomfortable with an older child breastfeeding, and feel it provides no benefit to the child (which is untrue, as the immune system benefits continue for as long as the child is nursing), so, whether consciously or unconsciously, will try to find ways to convince the mom to stop.
We humans wouldn't have teeth at all if breastfeeding at night were a cause of cavities - humans have been sleeping with and nursing our children since we've been on the planet.
Good luck!
E.
lactation consultant
certified nurse-midwife

First thing you can do is get a second opinion, I hate to say this but certain Pediatric Dentists in the Bay Area have a tendency to overtreat. My 5 year old who has sensory processing issues recently had the sedation/anesthesia to perform fillings. I kringed when I thought about the idea, however it was a pleasant experience, as much as it could be. Make sure the Dentist will be using a Pediatric Anesthesiologist to admnister and moniter your daughter. She will get Versed prior to procedure make her sleepy, then they will mostly give her nitrous to make her more sleepy and then insert an IV and give her a drug called Propofol. She will alco have a breathing tube in to maintain her airway. Good luck, dont go blaming yourself you have done everything possible for your daughter.

Yes it can be from nursing throughout the night. Flouride drops would help strengthen the enamel. Try to do this now as other teeth are still developing, otherwise this poor child will have life time full of cavities.

Sorry she is two years old, you should be breaking the habit of her sleeping in your bed and nursing all night. This may be the problem. You say she does not get sugar or juices does she get much water? also I would be concerned of thyroid. A thyroid problem does effect the teeth

my boy stephen, brest feed tell he was almost 2 too n then the doctor told me he had cavaties. i had already had him nursing only at night so i slowly broke him off the rest of the way n then, i had to have help getting him him in but 3 visits later he had to caps put on n 4 of his front teeth removed.. cap,ok tooth, 4 bad teeths, ok tooth, cap... right on his front/top of his mouth so he had the 4 pulled. it took about an hr n 15 min to put the 2 caps on he hated the hole thing n screemed the hole time. n that was jan 25 alittle more then 4mnths after his 2nd birthday. n my boy was the same way so we were as suprized as you probley where when we where told he has cavities. so far he is doing good, had noight mairs about it all for a while after the fact but he is good now. we brush his teeth after we eat, i let them use the mouth wash for kids too. isaac, has it down, stephen is still learning, but doing good too. good luck n hope things get better, from a mom who has gone though with it all n came out ok.. your friend, P. E. Rogers ps. isaac will have one tooth pulled on may 15th 4days before his b-day, but other then that they are doing much better on the teeth thing.

While my child wasn't as young as yours when he had to have anesthesia for some dental work (he was 4), it was still scary for me. Due to his diabetes and his weak enamel, he had a really bad tooth that actually had to be pulled and have a spacer placed in to get rid of the infection. As long as you're going to a dentist who is used to working with young children, or even better a pediatric dentist, they know what they need to monitor, and should be more than willing to answer any questions you might have. Now my son was actually given an injection, and they used distraction to do it, and he hasn't had any problems going back to the dentist. In fact, he shows his younger brother how to be a "big boy" at the dentist. I do agree though that staying away from restraints when possible is better. I don't know if this helps, or not, but I hope it helps you know that you're not alone.

Are you using floride in the water? Because if you are not that will definitely contribute. Also nursing throughout the night can be a factor. There is sugar naturally in milk and so after the last nighttime feeding you want to make sure that you brush her teeth to get all the sugar out. I think those are the biggest factors.

my daughter had decaying teeth at 2 years old. When she was 2 1/2 she was put under anesthesia and had one molar pulled and the other capped! Trust me...we are teeth conscious...my dad and brother are both dentists and I wondered what I did wrong. Her molars grew in with very large and very deep middles, and soft enamel. The anesthesia was fine...they only keep her under for the procedure, and it quickly wears off! She is now 8 her adult teeth are strong and look great. The cap fell off the one molar when she lost that tooth! Good luck, let me know if you hav any more questions about this! Been there!!! :)

This same kind of thing happened to me when my daughter was only 6 months old. Her first teeth came in at four months and started to turn yellow almost immediately. They slowly rotted away and we had to have them capped. I also breastfed her. I had the flu and neumonia when I became pregnant and ran a fever off and on for two weeks before I knew that I was pregnant. The dentist told me at that time that was what caused the lack of enamel on her teeth while they were developing. My daughter is grown now and has a son that is almost four and he just had to have a cap on a back moler as well. They used both methods of putting him under for the procedures and the gas that put him out all the way was much more effective. When he was two he had his front teeth capped and they also had to put him out. It's very scary but stay in the room with your child, don't leave him alone with the staff, for your peace of mind, you need to know what is happening. If they are reputable they won't mind this at all.

Just personal experience - my son had to have ear tubes 3 times when he was 2, 3 and 4 years old! He did fine with the anesthesia. Would flouride treatments help in the future? How about sealants? These are available and if her enamel is not strong you may want to consider them. They are available and lots better than rotting teeth! Good luck!

First is it going to be done in the dentist office or in an operating room. My daughter had to have some dental work done when she was three as she had 3 cavities and had to have a crown put on. I asked her dentist if they were licensed to do conscious sedation in the office and if they had a crash cart. They looked at me as if I was crazy. Believe me I was not going to take any chanced with my daughter's life so I chose to have it done under anesthesia in an outpatient surgery center. The anesthesiologist will sedate her with the proper medication for her weight and will monitor her airway as well. My daughter did very well with the procedure and they also put a sealant on her teeth. Just know that children do tend to wake up rather quickly from anesthesia and will be a little compative.
Don't feel bad about her teeth it could be genetic and whatever you do don't feel guilty about breastfeeding your baby, breast is best, it is was nature intended. A mother of two.