My toddler's tooth chipped and I was told night breastfeeding caused it. Does breastfeeding cause tooth decay?

See a pediatric dentist to find the real cause - breast milk alone is not proven to cause decay the way a bottle of milk or juice left in the mouth can, and mothers should not blame themselves for a chipped or eroding tooth.

Community Answers from Moms(4)

Here's what moms in our community shared based on their own experience.

1. 1

   Please don't blame yourself - enamel does not simply chip from breastfeeding. Breast milk alone is not proven to cause decay, unlike a bottle of milk or juice left in the mouth overnight without cleaning. A dentist can identify the actual cause.

2. 2

   Opinions differ - some dentists do link frequent unbrushed overnight feeds plus other factors to enamel erosion. That is exactly why you want a professional assessment rather than a guess, and rather than guilt.

3. 3

   Brush twice a day and, if your dentist recommends it, use a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste for enamel protection. Try to wipe or brush after the last feed where you can.

4. 4

   Also rule out shared saliva - a chipped or decaying baby tooth can sometimes trace back to someone else's jootha (shared spoon or food) passing on bacteria.