Breastfeeding may cause tooth decay for babies two years and above. Here’s why:

As advertised by most infant milk products on television, breastfeeding is best for babies up to two years of age and beyond. Unfortunately, breastfeeding these babies may pose some dental risks.

AGE LIMIT. Parents should avoid breastfeeding babies over two years old to be safe against tooth decay. © 2009 Aurimas Mikalauskas, Flickr | CC-BY-SA | via Wylio

Studies show that breastfeeding infants between the ages of 12-23 months have a high risk of getting tooth decay. The risk increases again for babies aged 24 months and beyond.

Misconceptions

A common misconception is that breastfeeding over two year old babies is okay since baby teeth will eventually be replaced by permanent teeth. However, tooth decay on baby teeth can damage the hidden permanent teeth that are forming inside the gums.

It can also lead to inadequate space available for the permanent teeth.

In any event, parents should still take care of their children’s oral health while balancing their milk intake.

Importance of saliva

According to the aforementioned study, the true reason for tooth decay is the physical aspect of breast feeding.

When a baby breastfeeds, the baby’s teeth are sealed off from the saliva in the mouth.  The barrier prohibits the saliva from breaking down the bacteria, and increases the chance of tooth decay.

The trick is to clean the baby teeth thoroughly. You can use wet cloth or buds.

Gently wipe away the excess food on your toddler’s mouth. It would also be best if babies aren’t allowed to consume carbonated drinks or unhealthy junk food at an early age.

What is tooth decay?

Tooth decay is the damage that occurs when bacteria in your mouth produces acids that eat away a tooth.

It may lead to holes in your teeth called cavities. The most likely reason for tooth decay are inadequate oral hygiene, eating food that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates, having diabetes, smoking, dehydration, and lastly, not having enough saliva.