In case you missed it, Australia’s Channel Seven aired a segment on The Morning Show on Monday February 7 titled, “Breast versus Bottle” once again fueling the fires of the breastfeeding versus bottle-feeding debate. You can view the clip here.
Personally, I’m a bit tired of this debate. I am a firm believer in the value of breastfeeding and – where possible – encourage breastfeeding as the gold standard for feeding babies in their first year of life.
The breast versus bottle argument aside, the main point of the segment was about oral health in infants and toddlers. The main problem being that bottle feeding can cause dental problems in young children – even children as young as 12 months old.
What is the link between bottle feeding and tooth decay?
Bottle feeding means that the liquid (commonly milk or juice) is being kept against the teeth for long hours, especially in older infants and toddlers who are put to bed with a bedtime bottle and those who are allowed to freely suck on a bottle throughout the day. Combine this with the reduction in saliva production over night and in some children these practices can cause a high degree of tooth decay.
It is important to keep in mind that whilst the experts aren’t outright dismissing bottle-feeding they are highlighting that it is important that young children are not left to suck on a bottle for extended periods of time as it is the sweetened liquid against the teeth that can contribute to the development of tooth decay.
Associate Professor Richard Widmer made the following recommendations:
Breastfeed if possible.
Avoid prolonged bottle feeding at night.
Avoid replenishing the bottle throughout the night with a sweet liquid (baring in mind that milk contains lactose – the main form of sugar in milk).
Don’t leave the bottle in bed at night for a prolonged period of time.
The Go for Your Life initiative in Australia further recommends:
To avoid using a baby’s bottle for comfort and to encourage your child to drink from a cup from around six months of age.
Developing a regular tooth cleaning routine as soon as your child’s first tooth appears.
What do you think? How do you care for your little one’s teeth?
Further reading:
Why no sweet drinks for children – Go for Your Life
Image Credit: PFly
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My toddler is coming up to his 3rd birthday in May and he’s still happily breastfeeding (morning, evening to go to sleep and before his daytime nap). I’ve never expressed with him (I did with my first child) and he’s never had any formula.
I agree that breastfeeding is the gold standard, it’s a shame more people in places of influence aren’t promoting this.
As for teeth brushing, despite all my best efforts, my toddler still refuses to use his toothbrush – he happily watches me and once in a while he’ll grab his brush and copy me and he occasionally lets me brush his teeth, but nothing on a regular basis.
I’m wondering though if breast milk offers some sort of protection against tooth decay because I look at my toddlers teeth every day, scrape with my finger nail and there is no plaque there. When I was reading about indigenous cultures and their extended breastfeeding, I don’t think these cultures have access to toothbrushes, so maybe mother nature in all her immense wisdom knows that teeth are safe in babies that breastfeed.